Traversing unknown terrains; conquering extreme weather; braving new heights. Aisha Al Ameer shatters the stereotype of an Emirati woman by partaking on bold adventures most people think that only men can achieve. She takes some time off from her adventures to talk to TEMPO…
“I am an ambitious Emirati from Abu Dhabi who has decided to pursue the life of a champion! I strongly believe that ‘champions are made from something they have deep inside them: a desire, a dream and a vision’. One of my goals in life is to make people value themselves, their abilities and uniqueness, and help them to follow and fulfill their dreams. My passion has guided me into different fields such as aviation, tourism, leadership, languages and communication.
“It was always a dream for me to travel around the world, explore new cultures, meet new people and be an ambassador of my country, carrying the Emirati Flag everywhere. It is a passion to explore the unknown and experience different challenges in life to widen my horizon, grow and feel the blessings that we have in life. Traveling has taught me to be more tolerant and open, and to also improve my ability to adapt. My adventures started at a very young age with family, as we used to do local trips, then it grew with my visits to other parts of the world with my friends.
“I choose adventures where I can mentally and physically challenge myself, learn new skills, and motivate myself to do better. I love adventures which help me to discover the hidden side of myself, discover the leader inside me, test my will power and use the skills that I have never used!
“Companionship in any adventure is very important factor of it success. Sometimes I go with friends and in adventures like the Arctic Challenge I joined a new group of people, who have now become my new friends, to share different experiences.
“I have visited many places over the last few years, and I had adventures with friends, such as hiking islands in Germany and raising the UAE flag at Niagara Falls, Canada. In 2015 I decided to go for a different experience and joined the Arctic Challenge last April with Mountain High. I am planning another challenge to Antarctica later this year in November.
“Each place has its own characteristics, which mostly relate to the nature of the place and the activities you plan to do. So far, the trip to the Arctic was very special because of its nature and weather. Going from yellow sandy desert to white desert is a real challenge! The environment is completely different: the snow, the ice and 24 by 7 sunlight! In this adventure I’ve learned and practiced new skills such as dog sledding, snowmobile safari and ice carving. I also consider the physical preparation for this trip as a challenge.
“When I shared my experiences with family and friends they were fascinated by the beauty of the Arctic and they were proud of me. My family fully supports my decision to follow my dreams and live my passion through these challenges. The most common comment I heard from people was ‘Aisha! I’m proud of you!’ Each adventure has its own taste, my trip to the Arctic expanded my horizon and gave me a wider vision about our wonderful planet and the beauty of the white desert and of the cold. It helps me to better understand myself, extend my ambitions, become more tolerant in general and increase my readiness to accept things and adopt new environments.
It believe that it is important to be yourself, to follow your dreams, to inspire others, and to always leave a positive impact wherever you go on whoever you meet. Always remember that your life is your message to the world, and you can decide how to live it. I want to thank those who supported me in my journey. My role model is His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who said ‘Every challenge is an opportunity for learning, a chance to test our capabilities and knowledge’.”
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Inspirational phrases by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid that Aisha lives by:
“Every single achievement you make, every single life you change and every single skill you acquire brings you one step closer to becoming a better leader.”
“Impossible is a word used by some people who fear to dream big”
“Every leader should have a passion in life that adds depth, uniqueness and style to his leadership”
“We have moved beyond the phase of empowering women. Indeed, we are empowering society itself through its women”
“It is our job to provide an environment that unlocks women’s potential. Given that, I am confident that women will perform nothing short of miracles.”
Connect with Aisha via FB Aisha AlAmeer or Twitter: AishaAlAmeer
