Q: In what grade are you currently enrolled?

A: I am in 12th grade at Salisbury High School.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A: My favorite subject is chemistry. I feel chemistry is a study of everything – everything around us was created through reactions, even our bodies. I also like doing hands-on experiments and chemistry has lots of labs to look on and conduct.

Q: Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A: I am a member of National Honor Society, member of No Place for Hate and top student of the year (which I got when I was in The National Evangelical School – Homs, Syria).

Q: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

A: I am a member of our school’s chorus, member of the St. George Musical Band. I also take guitar lessons. I am not involved in any sports.

Q: What is your next goal after graduation?

A: I am planning on attending an undergraduate university to get a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and then applying to Salus-Pennsylvania School of Optometry. Being an eye doctor has been my dream for years.

Q: What do you consider your biggest challenge to date?

A: My biggest challenge to date is to know how to fight the fear of failure; my happiness centers on being successful in life, but the fear of failing is always popping inside my head no matter how much I try to hide it. This fear has grown greater when I moved to the United States since it is a totally new environment for me; however, I am working on overcoming this fear by trusting my hard work and patience.

Q: For what would you like to be remembered?

A: I would like to be remembered for my personality first and then for my work. No matter how great the achievements are, they are worth nothing if the personality is not social and the heart is not sweet. I would like to leave a nice impression in the eyes of others about my culture and how I represent it.

Q: Who is in your family?

A: I have a large family on both my mom and my dad’s side, but I live at home with my mom, my dad and my brother Majd who is in ninth grade here at Salisbury. My family is so supportive, loving and caring. They always help me to get my life organized and get my dreams achieved.

Q: Whom do you admire? Why?

A: For me, this question should be “what do you admire?” instead of “who?” I admire happiness, no matter what it is included in. Millions of people all over the world are paying in hard work for their happiness – they are all my idols, they are all my incentives to get up every day and earn my happiness.

Q: Do you have any advice for your peers?

A: My advice is about positivity. People should focus on themselves a little bit more, and about others a little bit less. There is no greater recognition after self-awareness. When we have a better understanding of ourselves, we are then empowered to be confident and make a change in the world.