Please list your majors and any minors, concentrations, or certificates.
Global Affairs, concentration in the Middle East and North Africa.
Hometown:
Hebron, Palestine.
What is your favorite part about being a Mason student?
Mason does a notable job of fostering an environment for open-minded students who are willing to explore the myriad of opportunities available, whether in classrooms or in student club settings. Attending Mason impacted my thirst for knowledge and made me disciplined about my academic pursuits. In a school with over 30,000 enrolled students, it takes a lot of effort to make this place small; but I was fortunate enough to come across professors that have impacted my future more than they realize, professors who understand the multiple lifestyles and cultures of their students—I think that will always be my favorite part of being a Mason student.
Describe any extracurricular activities, study abroad, or internships you’ve done.
I am currently interning in the office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee. The exposure that comes with interning at Capitol Hill has been numerous and multifaceted for me. I developed a greater appreciation for the way laws affect our society and how their practical application present the best chance to make a difference domestically and in global peace and security. I also established a branch of Education for a Peaceful Syria in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Peaceful Syria is a non-profit organization made up of a team of students and activists around the world dedicated to supporting Syrian refugees in Turkey by improving their education system. I am an active member of three non-profit organizations, Islamic Relief USA, Pious Projects, and Helping Hands for Relief and Development. While volunteering with Islamic Relief USA, I help plan and organize annual events such as Promise for Palestine, a fundraising dinner for humanitarian aid efforts for Palestinians in Gaza. With Pious Projects, I lead the National Share the Warmth Campaign for volunteers to deliver winters kits to the homeless in Washington D.C. And while volunteering with Helping Hands at MAS-ICNA 2018 in Baltimore, we enrolled people to sponsor orphans and disabled childrens' education, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and much more in developing countries.
What is your favorite part of your major/degree program?
My favorite part of Global Affairs is definitely that it is an interdisciplinary major. I love that most of our class discussions trigger incredibly stimulating conversations on the different societies that are affected by the process of globalization.
What is the one part of your major/degree program that has had the most impact on you?
My concentration in the Middle East and North Africa. As a Palestinian, I’ve grown up witnessing the world through a lens of political turmoil and so choosing this concentration, I got to delve into courses that I am very passionate about that elucidate the political forces and processes that shape governments and influence human rights on the world stage.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope to be immersed in the field of international law after attaining a legal studies degree from a law school, and through this be an advocate for human rights. I hope to create positive change through a deep understanding of global political dynamics and policymaking— I could achieve these aspirations through public service and by progressing through non-profits. Perhaps one day, I can influence foreign policy decisions myself.