Experience

My Journey at LAU

Celine Boutros ’22

I have always been a dreamer, and so far, whenever my dreams came true, it was largely because of LAU. 

I first fell in love with LAU when I attended the Global Village of the 12th Global Classrooms LAU Model United Nations (GCLAUMUN). The following year I participated in the 13th edition of the program and traveled to New York as a participant in the LAU Global Outreach and Leadership Development Conference. I decided then and there that I will be applying to and attending this university no matter what.

I chose LAU way before choosing my major, as I had followed a scientific baccalaureate path but did not want to pursue a traditional career path. I submitted my application and got accepted into the economics program. A few weeks later, I was interviewed for the merit scholarship, which I was awarded.

LAU gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. This university believed in me and in my capabilities. With this new-found purpose, I was grateful and felt that I was compensated for all my hard work and efforts.

This university values its students. You are heard and seen. You have a place at LAU no matter who you are and where you come from.

With this clean slate, I was able to write my own history of successes and failures. I was able to grow, expand the range of my knowledge and my personal aptitude. I joined GCLAUMUN for its 16th and 17th editions as a trainer, and chaired national and international conferences. I was a committee member of the Consulting Club, Economics Club and Neuroscience Club. I was able to develop my passion for research and write papers alongside inspiring colleagues.

For me, LAU represents the ideal society with its blend of culture and religion. The life lessons learned and shared are incomparable. You have high achievements, disappointments, experience love and friendships, which you build based on shared values and trust. Friends become an integral part of your life as if you cannot remember a time when they were not present. They will support you through it all, become your partner in everything university-related or not, teach you and inspire you. They simply transcend the bounds of time and university. Keep these friends close!

That 17-year-old girl who ran to the library on her first day because she was nervous and scared will now walk around campus recalling the laughter, the cries, the stress before finals and the joy of finishing classes and going on lunch breaks. This girl left a piece of her in each corner of the campus, her own personal legacy. Before LAU, I was shy and introverted. My journey at LAU helped me grow my confidence and become more certain of my decisions. I explored different fields, learned to socialize better and communicate with my peers, to exchange ideas and be comfortable in my skin.

The most important lesson that university taught me is that goals, plans and ambitions change. It is okay not to have a definite vision of your life so long as you open yourself to opportunities and stay driven and motivated. So, after graduation, I am choosing to explore such opportunities without limiting myself. Another lesson I wish to share is that in life you do not have much spare time, so choose to make time to hang out with your friends, for your family and to take care of yourself.

My journey started with me, myself and I, and is ending with my friends whom I got the opportunity to watch as they develop into the most wonderful version of themselves. I got to celebrate all these accomplishments with them. I am proud to have met the incredible Rami El Haber, collaborated with my now close friend Hadi Zeaiter, partnered with Karen Khoury at every chance possible, became friends with Karim Fattah who impacted my life to great extent, shared rides with Antranik Artinian, learned life lessons from Roy Nemer and Ahmad Tayyar, joked with Mohammad Zeaiter, and stood beside Myriam El Khoury as she took this university by storm. Thank you to my family, for challenging me, supporting me in this journey especially my mother, father, brother and grandmother.

I am eternally grateful for everything this university offered me. I hope that all students realize that LAU is more than a university, LAU is home. Thank you, LAU, for giving me a voice, a chance to express my gratitude to this establishment and honor this journey as valedictorian of the Adnan Kassar School of Business. You have made yet another dream come true!