I am from Saudi Arabia where religion is a major force in the society. It should not be a surprise given the fact that Saudi Arabia is considered the Global Center of Islam. I am proud to be a Muslim but I believe the religion has been hijacked by the minority few with fundamentalist views. In my opinion, people do not belong to the religion but instead religion belongs to the people. All religions have the potential to improve the society if they are properly followed but unfortunately sometimes majority become silent spectator while the minority abuses the religion for their own personal agenda. As someone who comes from a prominent Saudi family and who has been educated in a Swiss boarding school, I can and do hope to introduce my countrymen to the real Islam. My grandfather enjoyed a very positive reputation in the society and so did my father who recently passed away. Now it is up to me to fill their shoes which is why I am talking my college education seriously. My college education will provide me with a strong foundation as I use my education, experiences in both eastern and western cultures, and my family’s reputation to introduce people to the real Islam.
I am a huge believer in the power of education as well as interacting with other cultures. When we have more knowledge and experiences, we are able to step out of our comfort zone and expand our thinking horizons. Religious fundamentalists are able to exploit the majority because they do not have education or cross-cultural knowledge. Thus, I am determined to promote education in Saudi Arabia, especially among those from poor economic background.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"Improving my Country: Application Essay".
I once read that one of the advices given by Bill Gates mom to the couple was, “To whom much is given, much is expected” and it’s one of those advices that also applies to my life. I have been fortunate to have grown under the best possible circumstances and not only my family has been blessed with economic resources but also enjoys social standing in the society. This gives me an advantage but also places huge responsibility on my shoulders to improve the society. Yet I do not feel burdened but instead consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to use education, personal experiences, economic resources, and social influence to improve the society.
When one thinks of Saudi Arabia, one is tempted to believe Saudi Arabia’s greatest wealth is its oil yet I believe it could not have been more wrong. In my opinion, not only Saudi Arabia but any country’s greatest wealth is always its people and I feel sad my country has not really done a great job of fully realizing the potential of its people. I believe the current government and leaders are too focused on the short term that their economic wealth will help the country just do fine but I am concerned about the country’s long-term future. This is why I am going to do everything in my capacity to use my education and resources to turn Islam into a progressive force in the society and not protect traditions that might have served the country well in the past but are not a hindrance in the path towards real economic and social progress.
But I am optimistic Saudi Arabia will soon become a progressive country because my friends and many others in my generation share my sentiment and I have no doubt the Saudi Arabia of future will be quite different from the past and even the current version.
