A student’s reflection on his time at ASU

I received my Arkansas State University acceptance letter in August 28, 2008 while I was studying Software Engineering at King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

I stepped on this campus as a student January 4, 2009, the same day my grandfather passed away back home.

I transferred to ASU hoping to graduate and make my family proud. I am the last of my siblings to get a college degree, something that my grandfather was very proud of.

I remember him saying to my siblings and I: “You make me very proud to be your grandfather because all of you are scholars and not time wasters.”

He didn’t judge me every time I changed my college major (three times), and his response to my transferring to ASU was “Good luck. Bring back a ‘hot wife’ for your poor old grandfather.”

Three years has passed since then, and now I am finally getting ready to graduate.

There has never been one moment during my time at ASU that I have not thought of my grandfather.

My college experience at ASU has been a roller coaster ride compacted with emotions of fear, happiness, loneliness, fulfillment and laughter.

Living 7,500 miles away from your family will drive you insane if you didn’t have friends to help you through it. But what great friends I have — friends that are race- and religion-blind.

I finally felt welcomed, and from that I found my passion towards my major.

There is no special ingredient to survive through college; you just have to believe in yourself that you are smart enough to make the right decisions to become a reliable human being in your community.

If you don’t contribute and try to make a difference, then don’t expect someone else to contribute and help you when you need it the most.

ASU offered me the perfect environment to grow and become confident enough to step out into the world and contribute.

If I can leave you with one tip it would be this: Listen to your professors and advisers. They might not share the same opinion as you do, but they know what they are talking about.

My grandfather has been my support when I thought there was none, and he has been my motivation when I had none.

I look back at those three years where a lonely Muslim, Saudi Arabian student lived and all I remember are the laughter, sadness, joy and accomplishment I have achieved.

I went from changing my major every year, to the Photo Editor of a 100-year-old publication.

That’s an accomplishment that only a few number of people can brag about, and I am proud to be one of them.

Never would have I thought that I would love and hate something so much.

I am taking ASU to the world, just as much as ASU brought me here.

Thank you Jonesboro; go stAte!

Raslan is a senior digital media and design major of Saudi Arabia.