Shahd, as I know me (Part 1) - Personal Questions

This is part 1/3 from my series of Q&A posts, this post is dedicated to questions related to personal deep dive.

1. Tell us about your family life.

I have one sister, younger than me. And I do live with my parents & younger sister in a warm home. My dad is a hard-worker Engineer, my mom is a full-time wife & mother, my sister is a Business Informatics university student, and I am a marketer in a multinational. My mom is the most important person in our family, she has raised us to be strong. My dad is a good inspiration for us to become hard-workers, they have tried hard to raise independent and successful girls. We keep our rituals! And we always have family time, through Friday breakfasts, daily dinners, and weekend outings.

2. Tell us about your earlier years.

During my early school years, I was a messy creature that is hard to  be handled. During my high-school years, everything went upside down and I have started to become a high-achiever. Then, I have achieved a bachelor degree in management technology with high honors. Currently, working in a multinational company & trying my best to keep the achievements.

3. How were you as a child & a teenager?

Both as a child and a teenager, I was air headed, playful, and a social butterfly. My grand ma & ma always tell me that for me everybody is considered family. It was easy to kidnap me!

4. Shahd the human being.

My parents taught me to give back as much as I can, so I do have the energy to help whoever in need even if I don't personally know this person. I do struggle a lot to keep calm from the inside as much as I do appear from the outside. Yes, I am hard to handle! As usually you will find me planning and doing too many thing at the same exact time.

5. When are you vulnerable the most?

Vulnerable in term of being exposed to an attack, whether physical or emotional. I believe we are all exposed to such an attack everyday. Missing a deadline, doing a bad presentation, going into a stressful meeting, having a clash with a family member/friend, need to reach something & obstacles pop up as usual. 

6. Who is your biggest inspiration?

I have a bunch of people that inspires me. To name a few of them: my small family, my team at work, from my friends: Habeeba Khattab and Habeeba Hashem inspires me the most, from the public figures: Amy Mowafy, Azza Fahmy, Amina Khalil, Esaad Younis, Mona El Shazly, Mona Zaki, Emma Watson, Operah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, Barack Obama, Michelle  Obama, Angelina Jolie, Nawal El Sedawy, and the list may go on for eternity.

7. Talk to me about your grandmother.

Laila, she is the dearest person to me. Unfortunately, she left me so early. She left before witnessing my development journey! I have lost something when she left me alone.

8. What do you think about "influencers"?

Some of them are fake & I never think of it as a job, however watching their pictures on Instagram is relaxing for me. And yes some of them do really influence me.

9. Strongest emotion that consumed you.

Refusing the reality for few years in my life, and living in the past. It took me a lot to move on & let go.

10. What are the countries that are on your list?

Paris, New York, Los Anglos, Dubai, Beirut, Morocco, Turkey, London, Berlin, India, Canada, Australia, Romania, Greece.

11. Future plans.

Becoming a marketing manager in a multinational company, publishing my first book, starting my own business, getting married to the love of my life (we didn't meet yet) & have my own small family, creating a short movie.

12. What do you have to say to those who expect you to be perfect?

No body is perfect, even you are not perfect! We all do have our ups & downs and this is the human nature. Such as the Yin & Yang.

13. What makes a leader?

Communication, collaboration, leading by example, discipline.

14. What does it take to succeed?

Discipline, ethic, hard-work, time, education, a good leader/manager, motivation, continuous feedback, being high achiever, have confidence, pave your own path.

15. Selfies.

Capturing the moment and saving it for later.

16. Social Media.

A virtual life that connects us all, I believe social media can be good or bad based on your own behavior. However, I do work on the good side, having a good network of people that keep me inspired and motivated. Besides being exposed to stories that helps you in building your personality and manners in life.

17. Money.

It is the way, but not the ultimate goal and it makes life much easier.

18. Books.

A way to live a different story with every book, and to keep yourself inspired.

19. Karma.

It is God's way to calm us down. I am sure that if I did good I will have good things in return, and if I did bad I will have bad things in return.

20. What did you learn?

You always need to fail, in order to become successful. Success is not easy!

21. In your opinion, why do you have an online following.

I think the number one reason for this is being a social butterfly, as in every event I am part of I do make sure to connect with all the people I am introduced to and to keep in touch. So, this built up through out my online years. In addition to this, nowadays we do have different platforms to share & be connected with people with similar minds.

22. Why do you think you have a voice online?

Everyone has a voice online. Currently, we do have different platforms to spread our word. So, it is easy to write something or post a picture & when it rings a bell people can easily like, comment, or share. By then you will have a well heard voice in your community.

23. In your opinion, what is the first thing that Egypt needs to become a better place?

Support and acceptance.

24. What are other online accounts you like to look at?

Nearly everyday I go check the Instagram accounts: Hana El Awady, Amina Khalil, Amy Mowafy, and Gamila Awad. On Facebook I go check El Gouna FB Page.

25. What are some of the challenges you faced?

I have faced a huge challenge to understand myself, still facing it. But it is much easier now. I'd say the most challenging years of my life are my university years & the few years right after. This is the time when I am trying to figure out what real life is all about. One of the challenges I am so proud to achieve is to run for the first time a 3K marathon.

26. What are the most important lessons you have learned?

I have learned to accept, to let go, to forgive & forget. And nothing comes easy, nothing comes free. Finally, karma is the right answer to all the WHYs.

27. What do you wish you had done differently?

I'd wish go to the German School, I'd wish to travel abroad, I'd wish to start writing a bit earlier, I'd wish to have the guts to try creating a vlog & a short movie. I'd wish to build my own business early in life. In spite of everything, I am really thankful to everything I already have and have already done.

28. What is the most important thing you have done in your life?

I have made my parents & myself proud. I have graduated university with high-honors, enrolled in a graduates program right after my final exams & found my first full-time job right after my graduation.

29. What do you wish someone would tell you?

Work is not easy, and it is not stress free! As you are ambitious & always dreaming for better, it is never stress free. And this may affect your concentration levels, your health, your sleep patterns, your relationships, and much more. Life is not easy!

30. You are a marketer, blogger, and philanthropist ?!

And the list will go as long as I am still living. Here are some of the things I aspire to be one day: join the Rotary club, start my own business, to become a book writer, to become a wife & a mother, creating short films/vlogs, becoming a TV/Radio host, to create my own line of notebooks and stationary, and more things will come to my list as I grow in life. I always follow my passions to wherever. That's why I have +15 articles published in different online magazines, I have learned German Language, I have learned to scrapbook, and I have learned to crochet.

31. Tell us about rejection.

I have faced rejection in some competitions during my university years, some student activities, and from some friends. Those moments are the awakening moments, that forced me to judge myself, to know where is the problem & how to fix it, to learn from the situation, to grow from it, to never repeat it again.

32. Favorite Actress.

Arabs: Soad Hosni, Mona Zaki, Nelly Karim, Amina Khalil, Arwa Gouda, and Gamila Awad. Non Arabs: Jennifer Anniston, Emma Watson, Angelina Jolie, Maryl Streep, and Julia Roberts.

33. Favorite Movie.

It is hard to name few movies, as I really love each and every movie  I have watched as long as it has touched me in way or another.

34. What was the last song you sang in the shower?

I don't sing in the shower, otherwise I do prefer to talk with myself & to daydream. I usually draw my roadmaps during my shower time. 

35. Where do you find your happiness?

I do find my happiness in helping other people in need, when I do feel that I do have a legacy. I do find happiness in accomplishment, whether it is small or big. As I do believe in Karma and when you do good, good will find its way back to you.

36. Haters.

Haters gonna hate! So, I have to do nothing in this except accepting this as a rule of thumb & stop bothering myself with them.

37. Do you always have to be dressed up?

Usually I do wear stuff that suits me the best. As for makeup, I only apply eyeliner & lip gloss. And finally, I rarely do anything with my hair as it is short & wavy by nature.

38. How do you handle a bad mood?

Relax myself by listening to my favorite songs, go out for a walk by myself, and talk about it positively. The most helping technique is to remember your past victories.

39. If we fast forward would you run for presidency?

Yeah, one day after having a very good history & a good bunch of followers I may run for presidency to make the change I want to see. For me it is much more of a daydream than a goal or a mission.

40. What is the quality that you find attractive the most?

Confident, authentic, ambitious, and supportive.

41. You have always been a go getter, talk to us about that?

This is me! I do take every opportunity to my own benefit as much as I can. However, I am not selfish! I always bare in mind other people.

42. Tell me about the anger. 

I become angry every time things don't go as planned. 

43. What heals your anger?

Sleeping, reading, or listening to my favorite songs. Maybe using my stress ball too.

44. What is confidence to you?

A successful person is a confident person.

45. What do you think is missing from the world?

Humanity.

46. What is your message to those who have hurt you?

Thanks for helping me flourish.

47. What is the place you call home?

Wherever I am with my family, and wherever I spend most of my time.

48. What is your star sign?

I am a Gemini. A perfect Gemini Girl.

49. Tell us about the charms on your bracelet & what they represent?

My bracelet is not full yet, but so far I have: the blue crystal, the Gemini charm for my zodiac sign, the Free heart with this quote engraved "Sometimes you've gotta fall before you fly.", and the evil eye to protect me. And willing to fill it with charms that are dear to my heart.

50. In your opinion, what is the one thing that if done everyday will keep one's life always on track?

Live in the moment.

51. Favorite book.

Eat Pray Love, The Secret.

52. Where did you get your strength, focus, and street smarts from?

Got this from how my family raised me to become authentic, they just helped me to pave my road and follow my dreams. So, here I am fulfilling my plans.

53. What do you feel is the true value of your contributions?

The true value is to make someone happy & satisfied. And to leave a legacy.

54. What or who keep you centered?

I do try to help myself to feel balanced, with my to-do lists & notes. I do try new things to feel that I am on top of everything. Outside of myself, my mom helps me a lot in organizing my life out whenever I do feel miserable. She always simplifies the problem & analyzes all the possible solutions with me to help in figuring out the most suitable solution. Plus, my team at work, they do support me whenever they feel that I am overwhelmed.

55. You are a philanthropist, tell us more about your work?

My high-school graduation project was to raise awareness about cancer & to raise funds for the 57357 Children Cancer Hospital. And since then I never stopped, as I believe this should be my legacy. Volunteering for 9 months in a project with IBM to promote the different initiatives sponsored by IBM Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department. Volunteering with different student activities to raise funds for various projects: Ramadan Packages for the people in need, helping people to have access to clean water in their houses, writing love letters to Syrian children refugees.