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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHe practices what he preaches. Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2016 in his early 30\u2019s, Al Achkar came to terms with his own mortality. A single man with no kids, he wanted to make sure that he was able to leave a legacy, and wanted to reflect upon his life\u2019s trials and tribulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He had his opportunity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Realizing that he was in the at-risk category, Al Achkar sheltered in place where he put pen to paper. Being Authentic <\/em>is his 159-page memoir in which Al Achkar details his childhood, and collegiate years in Syria, as well as his journey to the United States where he currently resides as a doctor for the University of Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many readers will be able to relate to Al Achar\u2019s childhood, as being one of nine kids, he sometimes struggled to find where he belonged. Both his father, a college professor, and his mother, provided strict boundaries for him, which helped allow Al Achkar to excel in school. He also started to develop a knack for philosophy early on and would question teachers about some of their teachings. He also developed a sense of what was right and wrong, during his early years, and some of the instances where teachers or others treated him wrong still stand out in his mind today. This has in part shaped his thinking today, as he is a champion for anyone he feels has been treated unfairly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most touching part of the book for me was when Al Achar got word that his mom had passed unexpectedly in a tragic car accident as a teenager. A mother\u2019s love is something just about everyone appreciate, and he left no doubt what a huge part of his life she was. Al Achkar admits he still has not completely recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The memoir also chronicles Al Achar\u2019s time in the United States. Despite struggling with his initial residency in the Midwest where he experienced racism and other obstacles, rather than fold and give up, Al Achkar dug in and completed a residency studying family medicine in Florida. He eventually signed a contract with the University of Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While he is engulfed in his work, Al Achkar does acknowledge that while he worked hard, there are many less fortunate than him, His thoughts often drift to the people of his native Syria and others who are struggling, through no fault of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was a very worthwhile and easy read. Al Achkar mentioned that you don\u2019t have to be rich and famous to tell a story, make a difference and \u201cbe authentic. His memoir and his life, which is still a work in progress, prove that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/MAA.jpg\")
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