Why did you choose to attend UM?
I chose to attend UM because of the Arabic Flagship and Public Policy Leadership programs. Both offer a unique opportunity to intensively study a skill useful for a career in public service without having to leave the South or pay the tuition of more high-profile universities with similar programs.
When and how did you choose your major(s)/minor(s)?
I didn't choose my majors until the week of orientation. I just did not know what I wanted to do after I graduated, and I was scared to get stuck with the wrong choice. What ultimately convinced me to choose Arabic was a belief that if I pick the hardest option available, everything else will fall into place. Combined with the analytical skills from my Public Policy Leadership major, I will be well prepared for whatever path I take after graduation, whether it requires Arabic skills or not.
What would you tell a high school student about your major?
When studying any language, you get out what you put in. If you do the bare minimum, you will not develop your skills and become frustrated. If you devote yourself to learning the language, though, including independent study beyond your required classwork, your progress will amaze you.
Why is your department a special place?
Because learning Arabic is a challenge, the Arabic program attracts people who enjoy competing with themselves to be better than they were yesterday. That means that everyone is hard-working, intelligent, and mature, and all of us have a secret talent - be it art, sports, or even another language - that makes the group better. You will never find a better German speaker, saxophone player, or ROTC cadet than in Arabic Flagship.
Can you tell me about a professor or a class you've taken that has had the most impact on you?
Arabic 111 with Dr. Clark changed my perspective on language learning entirely. I knew next to nothing about Arabic before coming into the program except that it would be a challenge. Dr. Clark figured out where I was on my language journey, my learning style, and the best ways to motivate me, and had no problem helping an absolute beginner despite his decades of experience with the language. Without such a supportive environment in my first class, I never would have come to love Arabic the way I do now.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
I hope to pursue a PhD in policy analysis before working as a researcher on security issues in Africa.
Apart from school, how do you spend your time in Oxford?
I like to spend my weekends volunteering at the Oxford animal shelter or the university food bank. It's a low-stress way to spend time with new people while making a positive impact in the community.
What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you'd tell your past self?
Bet on yourself in everything you do. If a class or extracurricular sounds interesting but you are afraid to try or don't think you are ready, give it your best shot anyways. You will succeed, or you will learn.
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