Hello there! My name is Mohamed, I am from Morocco, and I am a Baret Scholar alumnus now!
If you’re reading this today, it’s because I can’t get over this truly memorable, unique, and different experience that my friends and I have lived moment by moment: it was the best thing that has ever happened to me - zero exaggeration, and here’s why: (Also, I chose to write voluntarily because of the amount of gratitude I hold for this program.)
After I got in last year, I was full of uncertainty, as it was newly started. However, the idea of being part of the beginning of something as interesting, ambitious, and life-changing as Baret encouraged me and 100 amazing scholars from more than 40 countries that later on became my best friends to embark on this journey, and based on a poll we had in our graduation, about 98% of the cohort affirmed this journey impacted and changed them! Plus, who wouldn’t want to travel the world?! I went to 11 countries in 9 months, stayed in 4-5-star hotels, ate authentic food in its original place, visited 3 world wonders, and I even got an upgrade on my flight back home. How crazy is that!!
From the very second I stepped into Boston’s airport to my final departure for Casablanca, I can confidently state that every day I lived in Baret was a day I was excited, joyful, and proud to have spent.
I followed on with my passion for AI and founded my very own startup, thanks to starting things (an afternoon class with our founder, Chris Whittle, teaching us how to successfully create a business). Additionally, I have practiced written and spoken journalism by writing a series of essays about the places I’ve been, creating a blog where I rated the dozen airlines I flew with, and making personal content…
At this point, I don’t even think my experience in college will be any better than this one. Ha-ha! This year, I’ve hosted webinars, written articles, and spoken to applicants not promoting the program, rather speaking the truth and encouraging people like yourselves to apply, because it only takes that one click! Don’t hesitate to literally just do it.
Good luck! You got this, I am rooting for you!!
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Biking around the streets of Shenzhen at around 2 A. M, I noticed a set of food stands by a bridge above a river. This place was crowded with people, so I decided to check it out, and to my biggest surprise, they were selling insect barbecue LOLLL! So, with the little mandarin I learned through my Chinese class at Baret, I asked for two skewers, one of spiders and one of grasshoppers, and gosh, it was good!
