Ahmed Khlaifi, a government-sponsored student from Tunisia studying Computer Science, is enrolled in the 2023-2024 academic year at FSU as a recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program (TJSP) sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. With a special interest in the cultural differences he is experiencing between his life at FSU versus his life in Tunisia, Ahmed hopes to bring attention to his home country, remove stereotypes, and be an ambassador for all global citizens.

The TJSP is implemented by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) for the U.S. Department of State to foster economic growth, stability, and democratic development in Tunisia by providing the recipients with one year of study in U.S. universities to gain skills and lead positive change in their professional fields and communities.

Ahmed was just one of 27 recipients from Tunisia selected for this very competitive award from over 8,000 applicants. Universities get selected to host a recipient of the TJSP program after completing a competitive application. FSU has served as a host institution for the TJSP since 2016. In addition to completing a full course of study for the fall and spring semesters, the recipients must also complete a variety of requirements including:

• 80 hours of professional internships in the United States within their field of study.
• 20 hours of community service.
• Participate in virtual and in-person cultural exchange opportunities between Tunisians and Americans.

During his time at FSU, Ahmed has participated in a variety of community service, including spending his Tuesdays at Second Harvest, volunteering at the Mosque near the FSU campus, along with being a stand-in actor in FSU student-produced films whenever asked. With a particular interest in cinema, Ahmed made his own film, “Intersection,” which highlights Tunisian issues, winning an award for the Best Short Film in the National Tunisian Festival “Gabes Cinema Fen” in the 5th edition.

Along with this film, another creative project Ahmed has taken on is writing a book, titled “Bipolarity between the North and South.” In this work, he has pulled from his experiences here in America to compare to his life in Tunisia, and that, “when released, I want the world to know that Tunisia has potential like every southern country, but she never had the opportunity
to express that,” explained Ahmed.

Ahmed has been enjoying his time in Tallahassee. He says that his experience with balancing academic and social life is different, in the sense that he has learned to enjoy his free time and get to know people and explore the local area, while also staying committed to his studies. It was this difference in social expectations that Ahmed credited as being what stood out the most to him. “In my home university, if you don’t study day and night you’re not going to pass. Honestly, FSU taught me that time is rolling fast and that your twenties will never get back to you. So, instead of just spending these years studying a whole day you can also have fun and express yourself around people,” said Ahmed.

After spending his childhood watching other people experience cultural change on the internet, he was inspired to one day be able to do the same for his community: to learn and educate others about the differences in life between his life in Tunisia and his life in Tallahassee. Ahmed hopes to encourage others to take on this challenge and explore the world outside of their own lives.

For anyone interested in becoming an international student, Ahmed said, “Being international is a responsibility, so act like it is. What makes you a special student is that you’re learning in school and your daily routine because you’re in a different environment and country. So, learn about differences and teach your network that we are different, and we are beautiful as we are.”