Interview with a Fulbright Alumni Mohammed Humaid

As the application period for the Fulbright scholarships  concludes for the year 2009, the Yemen Observer interviewed a Fulbright Alumni Mohammed Humaid who obtained a Master’s degree in Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2005. The paper asked him some questions about the Fulbright program and the selection process so as to give future applicants a general view about the program and the whole process.

First, I would like to thank the Yemen Observer for their interest in Fulbright Alumni and for affording me this opportunity.

Yemen Observer [YO]: How was the selection process? What would you advise candidates to do in order to increase their chance of winning Fulbright scholarships?
Mohammed Humaid [MH]: The selection process was not difficult, but it is rather competitive. Candidates interested in applying need to have a degree with an overall grade of Excellent or Very Good. Sometimes Good will be acceptable depending on the level of competition. You also need to go through an English language test (TOFEL), and write a statement of purpose, which is a short description of why you want to study in the US, how it will be useful to you at present, in the future, and how it will impact the community at large. You then have to be interviewed by a selection committee. If you are able to make it through all these stages, you have a good reason to be proud of yourself.

My advice to candidates wishing to increase their chances of success is to think carefully about why they want to study in the US, what they want to do, and what makes him or her worthy of it. Ask themselves if they have passion and a burning desire, and then build a convincing argument around those lines in the statement of purpose essay. Show confidence, knowledge and commitment. 

Y O: What did you study?
MH: I studied Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media between 2000-2004 at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania state.

YO: Has the experience changed your personality? In what way?
MH:  I am not sure if it has changed my personality, but it certainly exposed me to a new world in which I had to interact with people who don’t share my culture. I had to listen to a new form of logic that I wasn’t used to. All this served as a catalyst for me to think carefully about many of the things I used to take for granted. It’s like looking at something thing from different angles, perspectives, and taking into account contextual dimensions.

In short, it stopped me from rejecting ideas and views that are different to mine. Instead I try to make sense of them from the perspective of the other person. The difference is like the difference between looking out of your living room window onto the one street in front of your house and standing on a mountain and looking all around from the top.  

One of the most unforgettable things that I experienced in the US was the privilege of meeting and talking to people and visiting institutions that you only read about in books. I met some of the great theorists and authors who wrote original works that people study and talk about everywhere in the world. To me this was a fascinating experience. I wanted to compare myself to these distinguished people and see how they think and react. 

YO: If you were to describe this program and its impact on you and potential impact on Yemen in a few lines what would you say?
MH: The basic assumption of the Fulbright initiative is that misconception, misunderstanding, and misrepresentation thrive in an environment where people don’t have an opportunity to meet, exchange views, and interact with each other. Once they do that, people realize that the things that bring them together far outweigh the things that separate them.
 

The down side of Fulbright is that it’s a very small program. Very few Yemenis have an opportunity to go to the US, and even less Americans come to Yemen. Yemenis know many things about the US, but the average American only hears about Yemen in the news, which is usually about violence and terrorism. I think more US fulbrighters should come to Yemen.
 

Besides all of this, there is something very important about the selection process, which is exceptionally relevant in the case of Yemen. First, the scholarship is widely publicized making it possible for the largest number of people to apply. The guidelines are clear with no exceptions given to anyone. Merit is reinforced at every stage. Exams are computer generated and results are produced instantly and electronically so they are completely impartial. It doesn’t matter in this process which family you belong to or who your neighbors are. It doesn’t matter which part of the country you come from; It doesn’t matter what color eyes you have. The only thing that matters is what you can do.  Fulbright offers hope to those who otherwise have no hope. There is so much for us to learn from this process alone. 

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