Hello everyone, My name is Sarah Raggad and I am the Tunisian Youth Leader of 2010. I’m really honored to be granted with such a position and I’m motivated to do whatever it takes to make a good role model for the youth in my home country of Tunisia. Even though I was born and raised in the USA, Tunisia is where my entire family resides and it has been a home to me every time I visit. Unlike most of my peers, the only family members I have that aren’t a 7 hour plane ride and another 2 ½ hour plane ride away are my Mother, Father and my ten year old little sister. Though some might see this as a disadvantage, I see it as a challenge and an opportunity to develop my independence- that’s also what makes me such a strong leader. Being a leader of anything in life is a difficult task- some more difficult than others. I enjoy being a leader in any aspect because it gives me the opportunity to really impact people’s frame of mind. If I can reform an outcome of a situation by stepping up to the plate and taking charge, I feel really good about myself- which is why I encourage everyone else to step up too. Anyone can be a leader as long as they know the key characteristics of successful leadership, such as determination, encouragement and passion. Determination is important because it shows strength in will and mind. If you’re determined to do something, it’s going to get done- no question about it. Encouragement, on the other hand, shows strength of the heart. Have you ever heard of a leader who was successful without the support of his/her followers? No, because then it just becomes dictatorship. If you encourage those who follow you, success is inevitable. And the last but most important element is passion. Passion doesn’t just give you an objective, it gives you a purpose. Standing up for something isn’t easy unless you feel strongly about it. The only problem with passion is- don’t let it deviate you from the right path. If you know something is wrong, don’t be afraid to point it out. I’ve spent my whole life dodging the stereotypes and the prejudices that come with not only being a Tunisian, but with being a young woman as well. My advice to anyone that is going through what I went through is to avoid violence and instead just educate the ignorant. I’m proud of who I am and where I come from, and everyone else should be too. So please, if you are struggling at all, please don’t be afraid to contact me- I’m here to encourage everyone. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to reach out to all of you and I hope you’ve all had a fantastic Thanksgiving/Eid
