Interview conducted by Shahd Jamal
Who is Mr. Youssef? Tell me about yourself.
I grew up in Lebanon where I studied Biology and graduated in 2009 from AUB. My first full-time job was in an NGO called Teach for Lebanon, which recruits fresh university graduates and sends them to rural areas within the country to teach in underprivileged schools. The NGO is part of a global mission to improve the quality of education worldwide. I was sent to an area in north of Lebanon named Akkar, and so I was on a completely different journey than my peers. It was an exciting mission for me, and I know I desired a challenging experience after I graduate. I did not prefer to directly travel abroad, instead, I wanted a real adventure where I can get to develop different aspects of myself. Also, education is a pressing issue in rural areas, and I felt the urge of contributing to its resolution. Those years of work were very important, and I really advise students who plan on pursuing Masters degrees and PhDs to take gap years between those stages to go and work. Higher education helps you develop your IQ further, but working with people, and interacting and collaborating with colleagues help you develop your EQ (Emotional Quotient). Earning degrees consecutively with no gaps in between may cause a struggle faced by those graduates once they join the workforce. So after working with the NGO for two years, where I got the opportunity of travelling to different places around the world, including New Delhi and New York, I was lucky to have gained a lot of insight about education in different cultures and countries. Then, for my Masters, I studied Immunology in University of Balamand. Following that, I came to Dubai.
Did you ever think of becoming a doctor?
Well, when I was a sophomore in AUB, I worked in its medical center for some time, just admissions, paper work, documentation, checking for equipment availability, etc. Being surrounded by doctors, nurses, and patients all the time gave me the opportunity to talk to them and realize whether it was a setting I imagined myself in 10 years from then. Sometimes you can get a sense of whether you belong somewhere or you do not, and I didn’t. I would not have been able to reach this conclusion though without experiencing it firsthand. My decision was not an assumption made based on anecdotal evidence; it was based on an authentic personal experience. That’s why internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work help a lot in the orientation process for your career.
Tell me your favorite quality about yourself and why.
I would say it is having a sense of empathy. In general, people who lack empathy tend to affect their surroundings in a negative way, and they might not even be aware of it. So this quality has always helped me stay mindful of other peoples’ emotions and general well-being.
Do you think that this quality can also be a curse if one constantly cares about how people feel and always prioritizes their well-being?
In Science, as in life, the hardest thing to maintain is homeostasis, or balance. In the human body, for example, it could be to constantly keep the body’s temperature at 37 degrees Celsius. The keyword here is balance. One should not overdo it and become too selfless; you will be abused and taken for granted. On the other hand, being completely selfish is not a good compromise either. People can be kind and understanding while simultaneously doing what is best for them in regards to prioritizing their personal needs and goals.
What is one thing you wish you would like to change about yourself?
Procrastinate less.
You look like you always have everything managed and under control, though!
I always ensure that I complete tasks that are at stake, yes, but I tend to procrastinate less important matters.
Seeing as you are a person whose smile does not part his face, what keeps you motivated?
There are two factors which always contribute to people’s character, you took this in AP Bio: nature and nurture. In other words, the genetics and the environment. Some people are constitutionally predisposed to being happy. Just like people that are be predisposed to cancer, addiction, and many other things. The environment plays an equally important role as well. So I keep myself motivated because I practice good habits: I work out regularly, I eat well, sleep well, and I ensure doing random acts of kindness and good deeds whenever I can. I also surround myself with wise and positive people. I pray. I meditate. So I create an environment that generates happiness and motivation as a by-product. It is also important to develop a growth mindset; one must fail as part of the route to success. Failure is nothing but a learning experience if you decide to look at it this way instead of just beating yourself up.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself supporting people to reach their full potential wherever I am. I believe that by doing so, I would also help myself develop further. Geographically, I would love to see myself in Europe.
Colors say a lot about people, what is your favorite color and why?
I like blue. I do not know why though. There is definitely a science of colors, a science of numbers and much more, but I never really looked into the plausible explanation behind this in details.
What is the hardest challenge you have faced and how did you manage to overcome it?
Many hard challenges I faced were the result of impatience. With time and experience, I realized the true meaning of patience as a virtue and that struggle is actually needed. So, do not rush life and do not skip any phase. Give every stage of your life its needed time. There is a story I like about a caterpillar who was struggling to come out of the cocoon. A man nearby witnessed that struggle and felt sad for the caterpillar, so in an attempt to save it, he created a snip in the cocoon for it to come out. However, the caterpillar came out and turned into a butterfly that died, because it wasn’t ready yet and had skipped several stages which were essential for its development. In the same way, I see that people have to live every stage of life with totality to finally reach the right time when they can feel that they achieved fulfillment.
In your opinion, what qualities must a student possess to be considered “good”?
A good student is one who operates from a growth mindset. It is one who is aware of the fact that growth is what matters and not merely the attainment of high marks. So, when you feel like you have reached a satisfying level of attainment in a certain academic area, you can move to develop other skills and abilities. This will help your brain function at its full potential. You can develop your music intelligence for example. So a good student is a student who is continuously looking to grow further.
Speaking of music, what instruments would you like to learn playing?
If I were to play any, I would love the violin. Instruments are not really my field of interest but languages are for example.
What languages do you speak?
I speak Arabic, French, English, and Spanish.
What is the last book you have read and what do you think of it?
I am currently reading a book called “Nirvana: The Last Nightmare” by Osho. It is a book that discusses the concept of learning to trust in life – the idea of going with the flow, and not trying to control life or set the conditions. It helped me realize that many things could be out of my control, and that it is fine. It can sometimes serve as a wake-up call. I also had further conviction that the highest impact you can leave on yourself and others is when you walk your talk.
What is something/someone you cannot imagine your life without?
I can certainly survive on my own, but no man is an island. I have many close friends whom I trust and feel blessed to have. True friends can be a great support system in difficult times, and also make you feel great when celebrating joy together. As for something that I can’t imagine my life without, that would be the internet. My friend once called asking for a restaurant’s number – I had to hang up. (laughing) Google it, man. I see internet and technology as an essential tool to improve the quality of your life.
Are those friends from the Al Mawakeb?
Not really. Actually not all my close friends live here in Dubai, but we have successfully managed to keep in touch regardless of the long distances. Those who live aboard visit me frequently, and I travel to see them.
If you were not a Science coordinator, what would you wish to work as?
I would be interested in becoming a researcher in clinical psychiatry. Linking science to metaphysics.
What is your favorite memory in high school or in general?
Having met a friend for life, he is in the US now. We met in university, and now he’s like a brother from another mother. All the fun times we spent together on campus were really good memories.
How are you still in contact with those people from university and high school?
I am good at keeping in touch in general, following up and checking on people. I like to strengthen my connections with others, and treasure the important people in my life.
So this stems from your empathetic nature?
Yes, maybe.
Seeing, as you are “Mr. Techy” himself, what is your opinion on the fast-paced technological advancements that are slowly limiting human interaction?
That is a good question. I think that reaching this stage is part of the evolution of humans. It is bound to happen, and it is going to happen regardless of whether it is good or bad. It is part of the journey of evolving as a species. And yes, I do agree that it limits the human interactions, and that there are several bad consequences that come along with this shift in technological advancement, but I am not an advocate of stopping it.
An author might like to go on a walk to clear his mind prior to writing a book, what tasks do you do before you write an exam?
There is not a specific preparatory stage, but I must admit it is stressful. We have a pool of questions that I resort to when preparing an exam, and I take suggestions from teachers sometimes to see what I should focus on. I always keep an open mind towards constructive feedback though. So when I get criticized at work I do not take it personally, not even one percent, because we’re at work and there is nothing personal. Business is business.
Do you feel bad when you know that the quiz you made is hard for the students?
Not at all. Students need to sit for a challenging test from time to time. It is part of the process, and critical thinking is a skill they have to develop. Making easy tests and praising intelligence all the time does not do you good. I would in fact be doing you an injustice. What should be praised is effort. The attainment on the quiz does not matter much, what truly matters is the progress the student makes.
What is your definition of success?
You become a successful person when you are able to understand yourself. All aspects of yourself, all your strengths, weaknesses, fears, and areas that require development and growth. Inner success is where it begins and where it truly resides, while outer success can be a mere misleading illusion.
And do you feel like you have reached that point of understanding yourself and unraveling all aspects about yourself?
It is a long process, and I always try to keep myself on the right track.
What advice would you give students who are on the brink of graduation? Through what lens must they look at life?
Choose easy, work hard. Do not be regarded so much with becoming filthy rich. This is bound to happen as a by-product if you do what you love and do it with passion. Do what you love, and everything else will follow.