My last visit to Japan was on 10 Sep 2013, and at the end of my visit I met many talented UAE students who studied in Japan from freshman to PhD. I was delighted to meet them and had shared my life challenges to them. They need to know more about the best ways to tackle the daily life and life issues. I talked about three main important pillars: one - be good example; two - focus on competency and three - daily priorities. To focus on 3 main goals while your study and every day focus on one main aim to achieve. The journey to Japan helps to shape us and then we shape our journey back. 
 
One of the unconventional students was Khadijah, a mother and PhD researcher on trade and environment. She was working on Topic, "Exploring the United Arab Emirates - Japanese economic relations, promoting trade and considering the environmental challenges in order to create a balance between Trade and Environment". And her question was very interesting: What is the UAE’s Future scenario of balancing between Trade and Environment?, What is the reality of UAE’s environmental issues? What are the UAE Natural Resources? What is the UAE’s environmental policy of trade and the domestic market? 
 
For example, one of the challenges for introduce\ing creative solutions to environmental degradation and its adverse effects, is the need for responsibility, commitment and justice participation in the time of the present economic slowdown.
 
She was not just impressed with my response, she never forgot the great meeting that lifted her up and inspired her to do more. She wrote  to tell me that she never forgot the story of the shark! and that it played an important role in her life. She said "I always think of the shark and remind myself to be the shark. This motivated me when I was low, because my studies were very challenging and I was almost giving up. Thank you very much for your valuable visit as it really gave us a push and positive strong energy to keep going. We were so proud to have met you and I pray that Allah will always send us inspiring leaders like yourself to always be there for us, we need you to share your knowledge, wisdom and experience". 
 
Finding the shark is important in your life to push you to the the limit and unlock your potential. That's why alone you cannot succeed -- but you need internal and external catalysts and the shark is one of them.