This is another in our Student Spotlight series, where our students tell their stories in their own words.
When I was announced as the valedictorian for my high school class, Eng. Abdullah Bugshan—the brains behind the operation of the Hadhramout Foundation—called me and offered me a scholarship to study in the United States. I soon realized that this is a great privilege and responsibility. When I first set foot on American soil, I committed myself to never leaving this country until I had the three letters “PhD” after my name and became Dr. Bindamnan. None of my entire tribe of Bindamnan had ever been awarded a PhD degree, much less from a prestigious American university.
As a result of my commitment, I attained a BA, MSEd, and PhD—all in just 8 consecutive years. I didn’t take any gaps between my education because I was connecting backwards and moving forwards. So when I finally finished my PhD, I felt a strong sense of closure; of getting things done; of breaking new ground; and of opening new possibilities for Yemen. I strongly believe that we need as many PhD scholars in Yemen as possible. Scholars are the new demographic that can achieve human development in Yemen.
What I mean by a scholar is simple: a scholar is a person who identifies good ideas and builds on them; someone who adapts to all situations. We certainly have difficult circumstances in Yemen, so scholars have a lot of work to do to close the educational gap, rectify illiteracy rates, and raise the awareness of people. Ignorance and illiteracy plague Yemen, and have set back its advancement. Remedied by knowledge and literacy, we can help Yemen take its place in the modern world.
When I was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania, they told me that I was a first-generation university student because I was the first in my family to ever enter graduate school. Although their designation was correct, it failed to capture the fact that I came to this country with zero literacy skills. As a result, I started referring to myself as a zero-generation university student because I had to build my literacy skills literally from the ground up. I spearheaded an entirely new scholarship for zero-gen students in Psychology Today, where I am a contributing author.
In my PhD dissertation, I studied the impact of traumatic childhood experiences and how they impact adult learners in their educational success. In it, I argued that trauma can hinder learning and that learning can heal trauma. I showed how writing can help people process their traumatic experiences. I also discussed how traumatic child-rearing methods are not adequate; we need to raise children with love, respect, and discipline. Corporeal punishment for children will only traumatize them, such that once they become adults, it will hinder their educational progress.
When I visited Harvard Graduate School of Education, I introduced myself as the potential upcoming Minister of Education of Yemen. I aspire to make strategic changes in Yemen. I believe that Yemen needs fundamental cultural change and religious reform so that we can make a radical transformation. What Yemen needs is a development miracle that defies the difficult conditions in the area. And as I said earlier, it is scholars who have the responsibility to make such changes.
Throughout my educational journey, I was both fortunate and grateful to have a set of mentors who took a personal interest in my learning. Foremost among them was Dr. Saleh Aram, who stands in my mind as the most brilliant mathematician and raconteur storyteller in Yemen. Dr. Aram convinced me of the power of stories; and he remains a beacon of hope in Yemen. We need more scholars of the high rank of Dr. Aram to achieve meaningful change in Yemen. Last but not least, I dedicate my PhD dissertation—and all of my educational success—to Eng. Abdullah Bugshan, without whose support, neither my PhD dissertation nor its progenitor would have been here.
Dr. Abdulrahman Bindamnan, MSEd, PhD, is a contributing author for Psychology Today, an ICGC Scholar Fellow at the University of Minnesota, and an MEC Scholars Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. You can support students like Abdulrahman by donating to our cause. 100% of anything donated will go to support students like Abdulrahman, trying to improve their (and their family's) situation through hard work and education. Donate here!
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