Sitting at Peabody, overlooking the Charles, on a windy windy Boston night, reminiscing of the journey, is a feeling that is beyond description. Seeing people walk by oblivious of how they will affect the lives of millions and millions of people is fascinating. These people don't seem to be different from anybody else. They seem as full of life and joy as many other college and university students. They are not the ultra-nerds or super-bookworms avatar that the words Harvard and Fulbright seem to project. So what sets these people apart.
One thing I've noticed talking to people during my Fulbright and Harvard journey is that these people have a vision and an ambition. They range from the young and inexperienced to the total authority in their fields. Hell, some are even professors. Yet we sit together boasting of the same title and degree. We are Fulbrighters and we got into Harvard.
We bleed when we are hurt. We are frustrated when we lose. And we have our share of falls. Yet what sets us apart is the ability to know we have to get things done no matter what the cost. There is no giving up. If one path doesn't lead to a goal, we just try a different path.We are bold. We think out of the box.
Fulbright and Harvard didn't look for 4.0 GPA's, though there are quite a few of them. They looked for leaders. They looked for energy. They looked for people who could further a cause.
My message is there are no limits. There are no ceilings. There are no boundaries. You fly as high as you aim to fly. Don't be discouraged by your failures. Learn to overcome them. Admit that you are human and you will falter sometimes. But never let those low moments deter you from your dreams. Everybody is unique. Everybody deserves Fulbright and Harvard. It's just a matter of sitting down and trying to find out what makes you tick. Which moment in your life changed you? What do you want to work on?
So what makes you special? I wish and pray each one of you realizes your potential and wish you Godspeed in your ambitions.