Informative Speech

“I have always had a fascination for teaching. When I first chose to build a career in this
field, I thought being a teacher was the only way I could nurture the minds of the youth to create
visionary leaders who will change the world one day. The harder I worked, the more rewarding
my job became and the bigger the impact I made was.” When asked about her reason to choose a
career of practice in the academic world, this is what Mrs. Amal Chahine, a Lebanese executive
director of multiple schools in the UAE replied. At 48 years, Ms. Amal reflected on her career as
a female and a teacher in the Arab world.
According to her, being a teacher in a school was a job more oriented towards women
than men. However, few women thought they could transition into administrative and leading
roles in this environment. School principals were more commonly male because patriarchal
societies assume they are more authoritative than women. However, she did not let this
demotivate or stop her. She put in the effort and always went the extra mile with her work. Her
main goal was the comfort and betterment of her students, and eventually, her work paid off.
First, she got promoted from a high school teacher to a secondary principal. Then, she
decided to open her own school. Now, she works as an executive director of several schools in
the UAE, commonly owned by an investing company seeking to building a chain of schools
across the Arab world. Mrs. Amal talked about feeling like she had to earn people’s respect and
trust in her as a female authority figure, while men in similar positions usually received them
without having to put in the effort. Men mainly took for granted what she had to earn, but she
regularly tried to challenge these gender inequalities, and in most cases, she feels like she has
succeeded.
After building a name and reputation for herself, people no longer treat her differently or
expect her to prove herself as a female leader before they trust her decisions. Unfortunately, this
was not always the case. A particular quote she said was "People might not always see your
worth and abilities, but the important thing to remember is that the way people see you does not
limit you as a person; it does not stop you from achieving your dreams."
Mrs. Amal’s strength and determination inspired me. It made me more aware of injustices
in our societies, and wrong perceptions that we might have been brainwashed into having. Her
experience made me question my thinking and change my perspective on things. After having
that interview with her, I feel like it is important for us to realize the importance and the effect of
cultural stereotypes and discriminations we might knowingly or unknowingly have.
We are the upcoming generation. We are the minds that will perhaps one day change the
world. Therefore, it is up to us to make sure we are changing it for the better. It is crucial that we
actively give credit to the people who deserve it, regardless of their gender, age, race, or
ethnicity. While my interview may have helped me perceive gender inequalities more clearly, I
am sure that plenty of other experiences will be able to shed light on other forms of inequalities.
The question is though, do we really need more testimonials to start changing our perceptions and
the world around us for the better?