"The secrets to success are patience, talent, hard work, competence, and luck. Or a dedicated father"
644 Days, 644 Lessons
Khalid Abou Kassem is also considered an author as he is working on a book that is scheduled to be publicized in 2018; which happens to be the year he graduates from the American University of Beirut.
The book that is entitled “644 days, 644 lessons” is considered more of a combined initiative by the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Talal Nizameddin, and the Communication's Office at AUB due to the fact that the book aims not only to share the story of Khalid which is considered life-changing but also to spread awareness with regards to several issues that happened along the side of growing up.
With the help of Dr. Nizameddine and the American University of Beirut, the initial publication of the book will be in AUB for now as the book is yet to be completed to have a draft manuscript that is deemed to be good enough to having it published and available at Librairie Antoine and Virgin Megastore, one of the biggest bookstores in Lebanon.
One of Khalid’s best qualities is his openness to diversity and teamwork which lead him to take on a team of 8 editors to trust them with his story and add to what is to be a book aimed to expose some flaws in the Lebanese government and the way friendship works when it comes to life changing decisions. Initially, the idea of creating the book was proposed by his long-time childhood friend Eslam Farhat, a pre-med student in Egypt.
The editing team is composed of:
1. Dana Abed : Editor-in-Chief
2. Sherine Najdi: Associate Editor – a business senior at AUB. Sherine is emphasizing in finance and minoring in creative writing. She has a passion for finance and the world of derivatives along with a drive for writing creative pieces of art.
3. Acile Nahlawi: Story Editor – a premedical environmental health senior at AUB. She has a wide range of interests and hobbies including basketball, choral music, writing and public speaking
4. Sarah El Iskandarani: Line Editor – a premedical student at AUB majoring in environmental health and minoring in public health. Sarah’s has a passion for research in the health and medical fields. She is also interested in the field of oncology in discovering its contributing factors and studying its innovative treatment techniques. Sarah also enjoys sketching, fashion designing and listening to music
5. Palig Karadaghlian: Line Editor – a third-year student at AUB majoring in Nutrition & Dietetics and minoring in English Literature. Palig’s has a passion for piano playing, reading books, and cooking
6. Souad Ali: Proofreader – a medical lab student at AUB who is also minoring in public health. One of Souad's hobbies is reading, and when she is not practicing this hobby, she prefers watching anime or learning a new thing that fits her interests.
7. Daniel Farhat: Proofreader – a mechanical engineering student at AUB. Daniel is also pursuing a minor in mathematics. He is an advocate of social reform and has a penchant for philosophical readings that define moral correctness, having completed a number of philosophy courses at his university
Khalid considers this book as a way for him to start some sort of change in the society and eventually share his own story with the public in hope to shed the light and open young people’s eyes on certain matters that occur when a teenager joins the university life, aside to life-bumps that person may be at risk of facing.