Starting Voice of AURAK: A Journey in Student Storytelling

In 2014, at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, I felt an urge to create something that would outlast a semester and give students a reason to be proud of their words. Our Communication program was still young, full of students eager to learn but unsure how to find their voices. That’s when I proposed the idea of starting a student newspaper—Voice of AURAK.

I remember the first conversations with my undergraduates. Some were nervous—“But I’ve never written anything like this before.” Others were excited, already brimming with story ideas about campus life, culture, and student issues. My role was part coach, part editor, and part cheerleader. I guided them through the basics of reporting and writing, and, more importantly, showed them that their perspectives mattered.

Designing the layout was my late-night project. I wanted it to look professional yet approachable, something students would be proud to share. But print wasn’t enough; I knew their stories needed to travel further. So, we took Voice of AURAK online, creating not just a newspaper but a platform. With social media accounts and short video features, we reached audiences across channels, giving students their first taste of cross-platform journalism.

I’ll never forget the pride on their faces when the first edition went live. Students shared links, posted on social media, and even pulled friends aside to say, “Look, I wrote this.” That moment—when they realized their words had reach and impact—was the most rewarding part for me.

Lessons Learned

Launching Voice of AURAK taught me lessons that I carry into every teaching and mentoring role today. First, that students often underestimate their own abilities until given the right platform. Second, that design and technology matter—not just for aesthetics, but for accessibility and reach. And finally, that mentorship is most powerful when it combines structure with freedom: giving students the tools they need but allowing them to discover their own voice along the way.

What began as a small initiative in a young Communication program became a defining experience for me as an educator. Voice of AURAK reminded me that the role of a teacher is not only to impart knowledge but to create spaces where students can surprise themselves with what they are capable of achieving.