Dr. Peterson had been selected by President George W. Bush, and again by President Barack Obama, to serve on the National Science Board. He has played a key role in establishing the national research and education agenda. He commenced his keynote speech with his thoughts on knowledge creation, tips on choosing the right university, and the role a university plays in the lives of students.
Looking at an uncertain future, Dr. Peterson emphasized that “a university’s responsibility is to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist, with technology that hasn’t been invented yet, to solve problems we don’t know they’ll face.” Concluding his address, he suggested that the students ask themselves if their chosen university will help them think critically, communicate effectively, act responsibly, and grow continuously.
A moderated panel discussion followed, with students and alumni from four leading US academic institutions. The overarching messages of the program, held at Northeast Jamatkhana in Norcross, Georgia, were those of striving for excellence and to follow one’s passion.
The panelists included Ambreen Delawalla from Columbia, Faiz Jiwani from Brown, Insiya Essani from Princeton, and Tanya Devani from Harvard. They shared their insights about their personal experiences through their Ivy League journey. Danish Dharani moderated the panel discussion.
All panelists shared their opinions on the importance of excellence in education and following one’s passion, with Faiz Jiwani remarking: “Trust and follow your curiosity. School is not a destination, but rather a means to learn how to be part of a solution.”
Speaking of continuous education, Insiya Essani provided a wealth of advice and encouragement to the attendees. “Define your own goals, be in competition with yourself, and contribute to the environment in a positive way,” she said.
When dealing with stress, Tanya Devani suggests leaning on one’s family for support and to maintain continuous contact with them throughout student life. Furthermore, she said with a smile, “I was very fortunate to have a family and community to look back to when I needed support.”
The audience was comprised of students and their parents. In response to a question on how to make a college application stand out, “Aim high and be your best self-advocate,” suggested Ambreen Delawalla encouragingly.
Other topics of discussion included how to choose the right major, navigating the financial aid process and the journey of acquiring higher education. The event concluded with a 30-minute networking session with Dr. Peterson and the panelists.
Anoosha Tejani, a 10th grader, shared why programs like this are meaningful to her. “I recently moved from Kuwait and am looking forward to applying and attending a university in the US. I come from a background where I already have less information, so programs like these are very helpful, and teach me what I need to do to prepare.”
Senait Pirani, another high schooler in the audience, said, “I like coming to events like these because I learn a lot, and the networking opportunity gives me a chance to build connections.”
The program concluded with Salima Jaffer, President of the Ismaili Council for the Southeastern United States thanking the speakers, panelists, and attendees for sharing their time, knowledge, and experiences. The event was successful in providing a platform for knowledge-sharing on the significance of higher education, and how to navigate the process by learning from others.
