Page 14 - ADU Voice Volume 4 Issue 1

14 • • • FALL 2024
14

I remember when I was in the UK when I was learning English in Edinburgh, Scotland, and
the landlady said to me, "so when's your birthday?"I said, "I don't even know". They said,
She
"Impossible: you don't know when your birthday is?" I Said, "Why?" He said, "You have to
She
celebrate your birthday." I said I never did, because if we want to celebrate and my father
has to buy a cake for everyone, we will go bankrupt." Of course, she felt sorry for me and
she made me cake! But these are just some generational differences, it’s not just our family
that experienced this. These days, the amount that’s spent on birthdays, and parties, when 2
billion people don’t have access to clean water… but of course, for this generation
celebrating and parties is part of the culture, my own daughters do the same, and I respect
that, but it was so different for my generation.

Rabiya: That’s really sweet, Professor Ghassan. Now that you've grown up, when you
reminisce about your childhood, how does that make you feel?

It made me feel proud, in fact, of my family, in particular, of my parents, who work so hard to
bring up multiple children in the family-- it's not easy at all. And it's made me proud, really, of
what I've achieved, and I've achieved everything because of their support and love. I mean,
love is just the word. They were loving parents, a loving family, the family bond has been so
strong until now. We're still united as one family, including my brothers and sisters… love
really did make that bond.

Rabiya: Now that you’re in a Chancellor’s post, I imagine you’re busy and something
overworked. Do you ever look back to the past and get lost in it for a moment before you
have to get back to the practical life you have at the moment?

Professor Ghassan: When you love something, and if you love your university, even if you

work very long hours, you don't feel it because you love it. It’s my passion; I want to see the
university progress. I want to see our students, like yourself —who are our best
ambassadors — and our alumni excelling in their jobs, in their studies, and also our