Community Service: Volunteer work is something I have always been involved in and enjoy doing. I have finally gotten back into volunteer work this semester after a long break to focus on schoolwork. Last month, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the organization Habitat for Humanity. I was both excited and nervous for this event as it is very different from the volunteer work I usually do. The most physical volunteering experience for me was at the most carrying around bags of gifts to deliver during the MFS Eid Toy Drive- and that is not saying much. I wasn’t sure how helpful I would be on this trip, but I found this experience really is something that anyone who isn’t afraid to get dirty can do! With our fashionable safety goggles and hard hats, we got right into working on a different job in the house. The supervisor was sure to check in on us and give us clear instructions on what to do. After a long process, I got to help install not one, but two doors on a house being built for a veteran. I can’t wait to attend more community service events where I can really get my hands dirty. I will for sure volunteer with Habitat for Humanity again, but hopefully it is warmer by then!

Diversity and Inclusion: I like to be involved in groups that promote and celebrate diversity. I went to an Islamic private school up until the fifth grade. Transferring into a private school where everyone wasn’t like me was difficult at times, but it proved to me that my uniqueness is something to be proud of and stand for. I was president of Face2Face, my high school’s diversity club, and I participated in the school’s multicultural fair. I tried to get involved in anything to express my culture, but also to provide a safe, accepting environment for others to do the same. I still remain close to my Islamic and Pakistani community, which helps shape me, but love to get outside of my comfort zone and learn about other cultures. One of my most memorable experiences was Black History Month Assembly. It helped with my public speaking as I got to talk in front of my whole school about something I’m passionate about.