HONORS EXPERIENCES
Student Government Senator
For the past few months I have dedicated a huge portion of time being a student leader an advocate as a student government senator. Attending weekly senate meetings, committee meetings, and hours and hours of reaching out to the student body for advocacy. I can’t say that it didn’t have its’ trials and tribulations. My biggest challenge was when my plans for initiatives dramatically changed when the Palestinian student body was in need of help and representation following the events in early October. I saw myself using my position to give them the platform they needed to advocate for Palestinians suffering overseas. I had to face my fears and confront UC administration during a faculty meeting with the fellow Arab and Muslim community watching, I spent meetings and meetings advocating for my co-senator’s now passed ceasefire bill which was the most endorsed bill in UC SG history. I even had to question the people around me as disagreements arose, and learn how to have the uncomfortable conversations. I felt like I had a huge purpose and it gave me so much motivation to engage in more action along my fellow peers. Despite the amount of backlash I have received throughout my advocacy, I have never felt more fulfilled and motivated to continue advocating to those who lack the representation they needed. I have attached photos from my time as a senator as well as a video of me speaking to President Pinto on behalf of the Arab and Muslim population. My video serves as the primary artifact of this experience because student advocacy to university administration is one of the most important things a student can do to advocate and voice a cause. It took courage and I give myself a lot of credit for it because I would not imagine myself to ever do something of this nature years ago.
Underserved Global Public Health Seminar
Underserved Global Public Health is a seminar that revolves around raw and unfiltered topics about healthcare in underserved and misunderstood populations. The first two-three weeks revolved around discussing the Social Determinants of Health which was then brought up consistently through each following week. We would have distinct speakers present and ignite conversations about very important subjects. Such subjects spanned from increasing healthcare technology in remote areas to dissecting prevalent racial and socioeconomic biases that are widely held in society. Such discussions were able to be connected to those like me who are aspired to do work with underserved populations. Something I truly loved to discuss frequently was the intertwining of many common struggles that people face on a daily basis, as a result of our very corrupt healthcare system. As someone who spends time getting involved in political conversations, it was no surprise that I enjoyed bringing up socioeconomics. An example would be how I discussed how the imperialist nature of western countries have consequentially led to a rise in countries and communities being exploited, which in hand results in communities who struggle to meet their needs. Another important conversation to be had was the rise in self-serving medical mission trips. It was essential that we call out whether or not people truly had selfless intentions when treating lower income communities and the rise of this so called "superiority complex." As someone with blood rooting back to the Middle East, I felt very connected to the stories of those who served in countries that constantly face victim to exploitation. I enjoyed the concept of speaking my mind throughout such discussions and rooting so many common problems in healthcare to the larger overall problems in geopolitics and economics. Being this seminar was not only insightful but will truly leave a lasting impact. It is truly one of those classes where you are expected to talk, ask questions, and be vulnerable.