What makes you a Difference Maker?
My commitment to helping my peers through my work as a writing consultant at the Writing Center is what makes me a Difference Maker. As a consultant, I assist students at any point in their writing process, whether that be in the prewriting phase, as a student is beginning to formulate their ideas, or during the final stages of the writing process or at any point in between. Writing can seem scary and isolating, and the pandemic has undoubtedly made the lonely task of writing even lonelier. I’m proud that I have been able to provide a collaborative space for students to improve their writing, even as the Center became fully remote in the fall. Writing is also very personal, especially because what we write is so closely tied to our identities, which is why I strive to treat every student with compassion and respect. I try to alleviate the stress and anxiety they might be having surrounding their work by approaching each session in a conversational way. My ultimate goal as a writing consultant is to have students see me as a peer that they can trust rather than an authority figure that they should fear.
Tell us about your leadership experience.
I truly enjoy taking on leadership roles for group projects. In CIS 375 last semester, we were assigned a group term project that involved developing a piece of software while adhering to the conventions of the Software Development Lifecycle. The project required careful planning to ensure that all of the individual components were completed in a timely manner. As the team lead, I was tasked with making sure that each team member had a well-defined role and that our team goals were met by the end of the semester. I think my attraction to leadership roles stems from my strong interpersonal communication skills. In large collaborative projects, it can be easy for some voices to get lost in the noise. I strive to facilitate group discussion in a way that promotes inclusivity.
What is your dream career or goal?
As a Computer Science major, I think my biggest long-term goal would be to help software development teams improve the accessibility of their software. As a disabled person, I’ve found that lots of software isn’t made with people like me in mind. For example, Google Maps has provided me with routes that were inaccessible in my wheelchair. Google has made improvements in this area, and they now offer wheelchair-accessible routing options in Maps, but they were only able to accomplish this after hiring disabled developers who knew how to adequately address the problem. Ultimately, I want to use my unique perspective to implement accessible software solutions.
What is your most defining moment?
My most defining moment at UM-Dearborn came when I participated in the university’s Model Arab League team last year. Model Arab League is similar in structure and format to Model UN, but it focuses only on the 22 states that comprise the League of Arab States. Model Arab League gave me an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of politics in the Middle East, as I negotiated the passage of resolutions while working with delegates that represented nations with competing interests. While I didn’t come away from that experience having won any awards, I did gain a newfound sense of belonging at the university. Before I participated in Model Arab League, I felt like I was just another nameless student, commuting to campus just to go to class. I hadn’t joined any clubs or participated in any extracurricular activities, and I hadn’t really interacted with anyone outside of my classwork. But Model Arab League changed all of that for me. I made some new friends, and I finally felt like I had become part of the campus community.