The Myth of Being Self-Made: 
How Strangers Shape Our Success

We often hear that success is a solo journey, that being "self-made" is the ultimate achievement. But what if this mindset is holding us back? In this talk, I challenge the illusion of individual success and reveal how strangers, people with no obligation to us they play a crucial role in shaping our lives. Drawing from my journey as a war refugee, I’ll share how acts of kindness from strangers helped me survive, rebuild, and thrive. It's time to redefine success as a collective effort, not a solitary pursuit.

BIOGRAPHY

Muhammad Talha is the first international nursing student at UNI and an Iowa UNA College Ambassador. A war refugee who survived displacement, he has lived in refugee camps and overcome immense adversity with the help of strangers. Featured in multiple publications, he speaks on resilience, humanity, and redefining success. His journey, from war-torn uncertainty to leadership, challenges the self-made myth, proving that trust and community shape our lives. He actively participates in MUN conferences and recently attended Harvard MUN.