Cairo- 21st of May 2021- My friend’s marriage ceremony….
“Dear Applicant, congratulations on your admission to the full scholarship Dream Together Master program at Seoul National University. We are excited for you to be part of our program,” I read it out loud, my pupils dilated, goose bumps sprang up all over my arms, and time stood still. My best friend finally tied the knot, and while everyone was happily celebrating that sacred and special moment with our beloved lovebirds, I have already started envisioning my life in Korea and what it would look like.
From the moment I received this celebratory and triumphal email, everything has changed, for the better of course. You know that feeling when you try to follow your passion and not give up on your dreams, so you keep trying so hard; however, you get nothing but rejection. Well, they say “Every disappointment is a blessing in disguise, “ I touched on the true meaning of that saying when I got admitted to the DTM, I realized that God was preparing me for a superb and golden opportunity around the corner, which came along with countless blessings and opportunities that I have never even imagined.
I graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. However, ever since my first volunteering experience at the U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup, I realized that this is my dream career and the field I belong to. “A political science student with a promising diplomatic future, maybe? No, not interested! I told myself.”
I have worked in many international championships and tournaments that were held in Egypt and I have always dreamt of working with foreign sports organizations to experience the global sports perspective and the way things are being done in such prestigious and well-structured organizations. And since I didn’t have any prior academic experience in sports, I had to take a step forward and pursue an academic degree in Sports Management. And luckily, I got admitted to one of the best sports programs at a very prestigious University. Before starting my journey in Korea, I was beyond thrilled and excited to see what this beautiful country has in store for me, I was expecting challenges, new acquaintances, self-reflection, and personal development opportunities. And while it was so difficult for me to say goodbye to my beloved family and friends, I was quite certain that I will meet some of the most wonderful people in Korea along the way, and that those people will become my second family and part of my soul, and they did.
Unlike what people usually see in me when we first meet, I used to be a very shy girl before getting involved in sports, surprising right?! I changed completely thanks to sports, and I definitely changed even more since I came to Korea, thanks to my role as the president of the DTM 9th batch, which is by far the greatest opportunity yet and the greatest manifestation of my personal development and maturation.
I love people, I love learning about them, their dreams, personal development, and their philosophies in life. And what is a better way to do this than through sport? My role within my batch has given me the privilege of articulating that passion I have into a meaningful and unforgettable experience. I got to have a deeper and more intimate connection with my batchmates. And although it was tough to manage people from 19 different countries, including many who are older and way more experienced than me, and to strike a balance between my duties as their representative and my feelings as a classmate and as a close friend for some of them, it was an enjoyable experience, every bit of it was unique and added a certain strength and quality to my personality. What made my experience as a representative of my batch even more memorable and emotive, is the kind of support I used to receive from my batchmates and how appreciative they were of the simplest things that I used to do, and I’m forever grateful to each of them, the lessons they’ve taught me and the journeys we’ve embarked upon and completed together shall be forever cherished and kept in my heart.
I will never forget our graduation day! The end of a wonderful, yet challenging, journey, and the start of another beautiful one. It was an emotional day, I was relieved knowing that there will be no classes, tough modules, exams, endless papers, and definitely no more THESIS stress! However, I was also sad, knowing that we’re all leaving and drifting away from one another, that’s life I know, but still, it’s hard to deal with it.
DTM has offered me opportunities that I am simply grateful for, whether the presidency of the 9th batch, winning one of the DTM Best Thesis Awards, or getting an internship at the Korea Archery Association, one of the most prestigious sports organizations in Korea. And I wholeheartedly believe that these experiences combined will certainly have a significant positive impact on my future endeavors as a sports administrator.
Life for me has been a roller-coaster, full of enjoyable, yet challenging, ups and downs. Sport, of all kinds, is my energizer, my favorite and most faithful companion, a delightful spirit that gives meaning to my life and adds colors to my gloomy days. I’m forever grateful and proud of what I have achieved so far, and I’m already looking forward to my life after the DTM, which is surely going to be filled with pleasant surprises and endless blessings.
I will keep building on the DTM legacy and will forever be a proud DTMA.
“Your journey is completely yours. It is unique. Others may try to steal part of it, tell it in their words, or shape it to suit them. Reality is no one can live it or own it but YOU. Take charge of your journey, it’s yours and yours alone!”
~ Kemi Sogunle, Author ~
Written by Mariam Arafa (Egypt, 9th batch)
