FOREWORD
Not as It Seems. Four years ago, when I graduated high school and joined faculty, I thought I have achieved all what I have aspired for, but it was not as it seems. Having to join petroleum department, new goals were set. Next, I joined the most respectable student chapter in the university, SPE Suez. Again, just joining a student chapter was not as it seems; now, I am writing this word as SPE Suez president after I have achieved many goals, set as a college student.
Mohamed Y. El-Faramawy I can now clearly admit that the most proper way to pave your path into the future while inspiring Chapter President others to follow you as their leader is to never stop aspiring; your ambition must be limitless. Life is a continuous challenge that always awaits for your best move, gives an opportunity, says “Here you are”. Now it is your turn to act differently, to inspire others, to change the world.
“A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what is a heaven for?” said Robert Browning. When you stop aspiring, you sentence yourself to death. History tells many stories. Once, Nokia, that used to be the most respectable cell phones provider, was controlling the whole market, until someone decided to break the limits. He just aspired for more; he aspired to provide a different smart phone experience. One that the whole world have never seen before. Steve jobs, who inspired me the most, was the type that could simply change the world mindset about how a smart phone should be like, while Nokia is now fighting to get back to the market not even to be a pioneer again. So, it was never as it seems; the majority of people then said that such new ideas are like pop-ups, and will fade soon. Now, on a wider scale, Apple has become an idol that deserves following in various fields, especially, their way of thinking that is clear in their slogan: “Think Different”. Status quo is the fatal mindset disease that can slowly kill any creativity or tendency to make a difference. It may seem easier and safer, but this is the bare definition for illusion, as Voltaire said, “One day everything will be well, that is our hope. Everything is fine today, that is our illusion.” Most people prefer to follow in others’ footsteps; they ask themselves:”Am I going to change the world?”, and prefer to convince themselves that it is impossible. It is much easier to claim that your goals are far away from your hands, and that there is no need for aspiration; you claim you always need rest, so let’s do it tomorrow, but this was never the way of thinking of those who seek success. Look around you, look at the change makers, in every place and time, they had some common values in their lives that always pushed them forward to pursue their dreams, achieve their goals, aspire for more, and so on. Our industry, the petroleum industry in general, may be discouraging; all surrounding circumstances are pushing you to surrender to your illusion, your status quo, while being supported by the negative people who harness all of their power, dampening you from reaching your goals and catching your dreams. Do not listen. Work hard. Try many times, until you know how to make your way to what you always aspired for. From a practical perspective, the world mindset is changing. Even recruiters are now looking for those who think differently. You have to volunteer in various activities, play sports, learn a skill that is totally away from your field of study, or even think of a crazy idea for a small project, that one day, may change the world. One of the real examples of breaking status quo is ECHO 10. The whole team had a vision; they aspired to make the tenth anniversary totally different; everything has changed, to cope with the new vision: structure, design and layout. On a greater scale, leading a team as SPE Suez was the sort of unique experience, that great team which has always inspired others to fulfill their own dreams. I may have come to the end of my word, but my story continues; I will always believe as Walt Disney believed: The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” I decided to be that flower, as best is always yet to come.
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F E B R U A R Y 2018
