Ziad is a 26-year-old young man from Syria. He is currently residing in Germany, learning the language, and studying to get his degree in medicine and work as a physician. He graduated from the MIT ReACT Computer and Data Science programme in 2021 and participated in the Migration Summit 2022 as a storyteller. This year, he is helping to organise the 2023 Migration Summit as a co-leader of the Communication Committee. He has volunteered with many organizations as a translator, academic mentor, and facilitator, both online and in the field. He is an avid cyclist, a fan of board games, and loves to cook.

In this week’s episode, Ziad shares his migration story, from living and studying medicine in Syria to moving and continuing his education in Germany. Throughout his journey, his family, friends, teammates, and his “most successful failure” have taught him valuable lessons that have further led to his success in keeping up with his dreams and sizing each opportunity for personal and professional growth.  

His message is powerful and clear: refugees do not want people to pity them, they want chances to prove their limitless potential. Ziad invites us to interact directly with displaced populations whenever we have the chance and to listen actively and learn about their struggles and successes. His story is beautifully summarized by the quote he shares in the episode: “Enthusiasm is found everywhere, but persistence is rare!”