Some students go to university to find direction in their lives, while others use it as a stepping stone to achieve greatness. It can be said that it is up to every student to make full use of the opportunities presented to them during their time at university.
Some find comfort in their friends, while others draw inspiration from success and use it as a driving force to reach soaring heights. Such an example is Sarah Ameri-Mills, a new graduate from the American University in Dubai (AUD).
Ameri-Mills studied interior design but is also President of the AUD International Aid society (AIA), a fast-growing humanitarian organisation looking to establish itself as a world-wide reputable Non-governmental Organisation (NGO).
It is her achievements as the AIA president which took her to Miami, Florida last month, to meet former US President Bill Clinton at the third annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU).
A dream is born
From that meeting, Ameri-Mills is now fast working her way to realise an ambition of becoming the next Iranian president.
"I was inspired to think about this ambition from my meeting with President Bill Clinton," said the Iranian-born graduate. "I was impressed by his charisma and depth of knowledge. He made me think of the difference an inspirational leader can make," she added.
The CGIU is an annual meeting run alongside the Clinton Global Initiative — which brings together former heads of state, Nobel Peace Prize winners and business leaders, to work towards global change and betterment.
Student leaders are given the opportunity to meet and discuss world challenges and work towards taking concrete steps to solving them.
"Iran has great natural wealth and many educated and talented people and these are the ingredients for a strong country," she said.
"Iran also has a great geographic position to be a bridge between different parts of the world and it could be an example of a powerful, prosperous and peace-loving Muslim country," she added.
Plan of action
Although sceptics would tell Ameri-Mills to dream on, she believes that with patience and hard work any goal is within reach. "Nelson Mandela could never have imagined during his 27 years in prison that one day he would become President of South Africa," she said. "Of course situations will have to change, but we have already seen great political changes across the world in the last 20 years," she added.
Having graduated from AUD last week, Ameri-Mills now plans to continue with her charity work to make a name for herself in international development.
"Mohammad Al Baradei did that at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and now he is being talked about as a potential president of Egypt," she added.
