HONORS EXPERIENCES
Student Government Senator
For the past few months I have dedicated a huge portion of time being a student leader an advocate as a student government senator. Attending weekly senate meetings, committee meetings, and hours and hours of reaching out to the student body for advocacy. I can’t say that it didn’t have its’ trials and tribulations. My biggest challenge was when my plans for initiatives dramatically changed when the Palestinian student body was in need of help and representation following the events in early October. I saw myself using my position to give them the platform they needed to advocate for Palestinians suffering overseas. I had to face my fears and confront UC administration during a faculty meeting with the fellow Arab and Muslim community watching, I spent meetings and meetings advocating for my co-senator’s now passed ceasefire bill which was the most endorsed bill in UC SG history. I even had to question the people around me as disagreements arose, and learn how to have the uncomfortable conversations. I felt like I had a huge purpose and it gave me so much motivation to engage in more action along my fellow peers. Despite the amount of backlash I have received throughout my advocacy, I have never felt more fulfilled and motivated to continue advocating to those who lack the representation they needed. I have attached photos from my time as a senator as well as a video of me speaking to President Pinto on behalf of the Arab and Muslim population. My video serves as the primary artifact of this experience because student advocacy to university administration is one of the most important things a student can do to advocate and voice a cause. It took courage and I give myself a lot of credit for it because I would not imagine myself to ever do something of this nature years ago.
Underserved Global Public Health Seminar
Underserved Global Public Health is a seminar that revolves around raw and unfiltered topics about healthcare in underserved and misunderstood populations. The first two-three weeks revolved around discussing the Social Determinants of Health which was then brought up consistently through each following week. We would have distinct speakers present and ignite conversations about very important subjects. Such subjects spanned from increasing healthcare technology in remote areas to dissecting prevalent racial and socioeconomic biases that are widely held in society. Such discussions were able to be connected to those like me who are aspired to do work with underserved populations. Something I truly loved to discuss frequently was the intertwining of many common struggles that people face on a daily basis, as a result of our very corrupt healthcare system. As someone who spends time getting involved in political conversations, it was no surprise that I enjoyed bringing up socioeconomics. An example would be how I discussed how the imperialist nature of western countries have consequentially led to a rise in countries and communities being exploited, which in hand results in communities who struggle to meet their needs. Another important conversation to be had was the rise in self-serving medical mission trips. It was essential that we call out whether or not people truly had selfless intentions when treating lower income communities and the rise of this so called "superiority complex." As someone with blood rooting back to the Middle East, I felt very connected to the stories of those who served in countries that constantly face victim to exploitation. I enjoyed the concept of speaking my mind throughout such discussions and rooting so many common problems in healthcare to the larger overall problems in geopolitics and economics. Being this seminar was not only insightful but will truly leave a lasting impact. It is truly one of those classes where you are expected to talk, ask questions, and be vulnerable.
Reflections:
What are your goals and expectations from the SLRT? What are you hoping to bring back to your organizations?:
My goals and expectations from the SLRTs are to be able to not only find ways to be a better leader but also find ways to improve myself on a personal level. Whether it is tools for more efficient time management when juggling multiple leadership positions, extracurriculars, and academics or finding ways to better my stress and burnout. There are so many ways that I can improve to further better and make my day to day life and tasks much more efficient. Another important goal I have is to improve how I work with people who may have different communication styles and personalities that may be different from mine. Although I have been able to work with others who may not do things the way that I do, I know that there are more that I can work on and improve. Overall, I want to be able to be a more efficient leader and leave a long-lasting impact in my organizations.
Write to yourself a paragraph you would want to read back to yourself when you are going through a rough mental patch/experiencing burnout.
Although things seem absolutely draining and impossible right now and the one thing you want to do at the moment is crash and give up, this isn’t the first time that you have endured a lot of rigor on your plate. You have been able to persevere through so many obstacles and rough mental patches even if it seemed impossible to. Above your academics and extracurriculars, remember to take care of yourself and prioritize your wellbeing. Always maintain a balance of working hard and relaxing and easing your mind. Pushing yourself over the limit of what you can handle isn’t healthy for your mind or your body so remember to take it all one step at a time. Prioritize good study habits, not procrastinating, and spending time doing the things you enjoy! I know things may seem so hard and agonizing at the moment, but you are more than capable of everything you put your mind into.
Describe your experience with the Human Knot activity and what you learned.
With my experience with the Human Knot activity, I honestly did not expect this activity to be as frustrating as it was. I went into this entire process with generally an open mind and did my best to lead some parts of this activity, however as time gradually passed some things became super confusing and I started to get really fatigued. Through the moments of feeling like giving up I did my best to have the group be as motivated as possible to untangle ourselves. Although it did not work exactly as we planned, I have a newfound appreciation for the way each of us did our best to lead the group closer to the solution.
Document your role’s responsibilities as if you were explaining them to the person who will take over your position. Then identify steps you can take to ensure a smooth transition.
As outreach chair for UC MAPS the responsibilities include facilitating a relationship between the organization and the community. This includes other student organizations, volunteer groups, and even health professionals. It is also important to try to have a reach on the student body and use your position to recruit people interested in health and medicine to be apart of the organization or even come to a meeting.
Steps to include a smooth transition include:
Create a template describing common tasks that is usually done by an outreach chair
Facilitating a meeting with the incoming person filling the position and help them with any questions or concerns that they have
After a small period of time I would then do a follow up meeting with them to make sure that everything is going smoothly
Not necessary but ideally I like to get to know every new member of the board regardless of their position to get to know them and see how they will run the organization,
What strategies can leaders use to combat imposter syndrome while staying authentic to their identities?
To combat imposter syndrome it is important to do things such as grounding yourself and reframing your thoughts. The thoughts you have about yourself aren’t necessarily reality and it can be hard to distinguish the two. Even brief thoughts of self doubt can be really detrimental to someone so it is important to rewire your thought process. Doing things such as writing all the good things you have done throughout the week, your previous accomplishments even if they seem “small”, and positive affirmations can be super helpful in reminding yourself that you are capable of doing anything. When things get very overwhelming it can also be helpful to prioritize self-care as well so that you don’t struggle with ongoing pressure.
First, describe how your organization(s) would enhance programming if funding weren’t a constraint. Then reflect on what these choices reveal about your organization(s)’ priorities and the leaders’ values.
For my organization Arab Student Association, we would host a lot more bigger and more elaborate events that would require a lot of funding. Events like our Arab Night or occasional outings are usually rare kind of events because they're costly and we have to distribute our funds fairly. Our organization is built upon bringing the Arab community at UC together and that is our top priority when it comes to what we would do. For MAPS, we would utilize funds to be able to do activities and meetings that revolve around hands on work and experiences. We would also do more socials to bring the community together and also network with other likeminded students.
Part One: Reflecting
1. What moments am I most proud of as a leader?
I am very proud of the moments where all the hard work I have put into something pays off. Sometimes it can be very difficult to have motivation to do things and to see the outcome of a project or idea is so rewarding.
2. What was one leadership challenge I overcame, and what did I learn from it?
One leadership challenge I overcame was experiencing issues of conflict resolution within my organization. There was a lot of interpersonal problems which spread to the organization itself, and I did my best to resolve it as best as I can. I realized that conflict is not something that can be avoided within an organization and is basically a rite of passage.
3. How have I impacted others through my leadership?
I have been able to help people get out of their shell as I have always made sure that everyone feels included and part of the organization. As someone who is very social and extroverted it is very easy for me to communicate with other people and make sure that things are going accordingly.
4. What kind of leader do I want to be one year from now?
I want to be the kind of leader that gets a lot of projects accomplished, and inspires others to get involved as well!
5. What is one leadership skill I want to grow next?
Definitely accountability. I sometimes have a hard time holding others and even myself accountable and I think accountability is very important. It allows for people to get things done efficiently and gives room for more growth.
Part Two: Goal Setting
1. Your leadership goal:
One leadership goal I have is to create new projects that involves inviting others to get involved. One project I am looking to facilitate is actually a crossover collaboration between MAPS and my other organization I have been getting involved with which is Cincinnati Global Shapers. It will be to create care packages for the homeless and distribute them.
2. Why this goal matters to me:
I want to give back to a community that I have spent a lot of time exploring and getting to know. I think it is important as a student of this university to give back to the city that has been supporting it.
3. Actionable steps to reach the goal:
I will create a meeting for both organizations to meet and talk to one another and then discuss plans related to the goal. Other steps will follow from there as anything is tentative.
4. People who can help me or keep me accountable:
The leadership in both organizations.
5. Resources I’ll need:
None really, just the people in both organizations…when it comes to making care packages we will be hosting a drive to collect items.
6. How I’ll celebrate once I reach my goal:
Not really sure yet, that will be decided once the time comes.
The Student Leader Roundtable involved a bimonthly meeting where I along with several leaders meet and learn more about what leadership truly entails. Overall it was a very beneficial experience. I was able to meet new peers and express so many thoughts and ideas that I had regarding leadership. It was very eye opening to see how even though my peers and I all came from very different organizations and backgrounds, we all shared similar experiences as leaders. This can include similarities within how we all facilitate meetings to having similar occurrences of dealing with conflict or imposter syndrome. During this experience I along with a peer were able to present and facilitate a topic discussion on mental health awareness and the stress that can develop for those who are in leadership positions. It allowed us to communicate and talk about our very real experiences and conflicts when it comes to taking care our mental health and how we can better prioritize ourselves. Sometimes we as leaders put so much pressure on ourselves to be on top of it all the time that we slowly start to forget to put more attention on us. Overall I not only learned more about how to be a good leader, but I also learned so much about myself and the leader that I can stride to become. My goal that I am wanting to achieve is to be able to head an initiative between multiple organizations that I am in to help our community and those in need, and I am very excited to use what I learned throughout these roundtables in my future plans.
Student Table Roundtable
Student Table Roundtable Pt. 2
Reflections:
Think back to the icebreaker card challenges: Hidden Sum, Higher or Lower, and Chain Build. If you were to replay each game and could assign one leadership approach per game (no repeats), which approach would likely work best for each, and why? Your options are:
Autocratic (one person leading)
Democratic (group discussion)
Laissez-Faire (anyone taking initiative)
Out of all the leadership approaches, I would say that a democratic approach would be the most fitting and beneficial. Having a more democratic approach allows for everybody to contribute, which also increases the chances of success. There is a more diverse pool of ideas that are presented, which can allow for others to be inspired and also participate in the discussion. An autocratic approach is not as efficient in my opinion. Although it is normal for there to naturally be a group leader in a group discussion, having one person solely take the lead decreases any participation for the rest of the group and it also prevents diversity of ideas. Laissez-Faire is not as inefficient as autocratic, however participation isn’t guaranteed.
How does the comparison between the cup results and the physical line-up change your understanding of which stress and energy states most strongly influence how you show up as a leader?
Looking at the comparisons between the results, it made sense to me how daily tasks such as getting out of bed and checking endless notifications can negatively affect the way I go about my day and show up as a leader. While cognitive and physically rewarding tasks such as partaking in theory and pilates can help someone charge and be a more present leader. Even though the tasks that may seem more strenuous and physically challenging can appear to tire someone out, it truly is about the fulfillment that comes out of it and the fact that it can be a stress reliever. While very simple tasks like getting out of bed can be a more stressful task for those who struggle to get proper sleep or need a true pick me up.
What's one thing you could change in your organization to make someone feel more valued?
One thing I would change in my organization(s) is try to get more general body members involved within our organization. I feel like a lot of the work we do and hands on experience happens within the executive board. This is understandable because we are the people who are organizing and leading the organization, but allowing general body members to have more of a say within the organization allows for more people to feel comfortable and willing to open up and communicate about their wants and needs within the organization.
Reflect on an interpersonal experience where you encountered a difference in perspective. Describe how working through that difference influenced decisions, relationships, and collaboration
In my research capstone, I work with a small group to execute a research project. We each have very different ways of approaching problem solving and goal execution. I am someone who takes my time and isn’t super cautious when it comes to getting things done immediately, while another student in my group may be more urgent and relies on getting things done as soon as possible. This can cause conflict as it can disrupt the way we work as a group if we all approach this capstone differently. One of the things that we have done is to try and incorporate each part of how we do our work into our research, so that we can compromise and all be content with how we work together.
Is imposter syndrome something leaders should (option 1:) work to overcome or (option 2:) learn to work with? Support your opinion synthesis (why/how?)
Imposter syndrome should be something that leaders should work to overcome, but also understand that it is so common amongst leaders. In order for someone to be able to overcome imposter syndrome they need to be able to acknowledge their feelings and find ways to reframe the thoughts that come to their head. A lot of the time, imposter syndrome stems from insecurities that haven’t been fully addressed. For me I try to combine working to overcome imposter syndrome with finding ways to cope with impulsive thoughts that come from it. Things I like to do is ground myself, engage in positive affirmations, and remind myself that I am capable of anything I put my mind into.
How do ego and vulnerability influence emotional intelligence?
Ego and vulnerability play opposite roles in influencing emotional intelligence. Vulnerability allows for the person to be more aware of their actions and more trusting of outside sources while ego almost serves as a barrier of protection. Having increased vulnerability allows for more self-awareness amongst the individual and with higher self-awareness the person can be more careful about how their actions affect themselves and the people around them. Ego is also very important because it is the way we each perceive ourselves, but sometimes having too high of an ego can cause the person to be too defensive and arrogant. This can cause inability to change and grow through certain situations. Hence you need a good balance of both vulnerability and ego so you can reach an optimal level of emotional intelligence.
Reflecting
1. What moments am I most proud of as a leader?
I am proud of the moments where I have extended my empathy to those around me and allowed for others to be vulnerable with me and vice versa. I am also very proud of the way I provided a welcoming attitude to the spaces that I am in.
2. What was one leadership challenge I overcame, and what did I learn from it?
One leadership challenge I overcame was when my team and I wouldn’t meet eye to eye when it came to certain goals. But we were able to utilize conflict management efficiently and I was able to learn about how to manage other people’s perspectives and ideas.
3. How have I impacted others through my leadership?
I was kind of the outgoing and optimistic leader in my team, I provided a safe space for everyone around me and I was also someone who allowed for others to have conversations with whether it was comfortable or uncomfortable.
4. What kind of leader do I want to be one year from now?
I want to maintain the compassion that I have as a leader, but I also want to be someone who does better in terms of communication and conflict resolution. I hope to be a leader that works well with all different perspectives.
5. What is one leadership skill I want to grow next?
I want to do better with my communication skills and improve the way I talk to others especially in times of conflict. I want to improve the way I communicate with people that may have polar opposite communication styles to me. I don’t to bad in that realm, but there is also room for improvement.
Goal Setting
1. Your leadership goal:
Improve my self-awareness and imposter syndrome
2. Why this goal matters to me:
This goal matters to me because I feel like I need to do better in the way that I view myself as a leader. Sometimes I feel very insecure and think that I am incapable of my skills, and I genuinely deserve to view myself in a better light.
3. Actionable steps to reach the goal:
Increase mindfulness and good self-affirmations. It is really important to do good self-talk and
4. People who can help me or keep me accountable:
My friends and family!
5. Resources I’ll need:
I am reading some books right now on improving my self-image and my mental health. I also love watching youtube videos that talk about imposter syndrome.
6. How I’ll celebrate once I reach my goal:
Not sure, maybe a great dinner with those I love.
This was my second semester doing the student leader roundtable, and I found it to be even more beneficial and eye opening than the last. I think it is really unique to see how being in the same roundtable with a different group of participants can provide new insights and change the experience as a whole. I was met with people who are leaders in very different organizations and I was able to see the different kinds of leadership styles and approaches that each person brought to the table. My favorite discussion that we had during this roundtable was the discussion about emotional intelligence not only because it plays a huge role in how organizations function, but because it affects every single interpersonal relationship in my life. Being able to reflect on my own strengths and weaknesses allows me to understand what I can improve on in my daily interactions and what I can do better. One very important point I made during the discussion is that sometimes being someone who can engage in difficult conversations and bring insight in other people, can sometimes illicit discomfort in those who aren’t ready to emotionally navigate themselves or take accountability. But that discomfort is a necessary feeling and not something we should simply escape. My partner and I did a presentation on conflict among leadership, which was a subject I was particularly very passionate about because I have experienced the highs and lows of navigating conflict. Both among my organizations and among personal relationships. I really liked what we had to share and I found it to be very beneficial for people to learn the different kinds of conflicts and the way we should aspire to navigate each conflict. Overall, this was a very beneficial experience and I learned so much about myself that I wouldn’t have thought to know before.
DJing Experience
Pursuing a new hobby as a DJ was definitely one of the most fulfilling and life changing experiences that I have ever done. My passion for music was something I have always wanted to explore, but felt too intimidated to do so. Throughout my years at UC and exploring the scene in Cincinnati, I crossed paths and developed bonds with many well known DJs. Every time I saw them in action I was thoroughly inspired by them and felt very inclined to trying mixing out myself. After buying a mixing board, I instantly fell in love with it and spent hours every night practicing and learning more about creating mixtapes and figuring out what sounds would help carry a crowd. My first show in April was my first experience djing in front of a group of people and I felt such a rush of excitement and adrenaline throughout it all. I then had my first experience downtown at an open decks the following May and was able to connect with even more DJs in the city, with one now being a very dear friend of mine who is currently in the process of teaching me music production. I knew in an instant that I wanted to make this an honors experience for the following semesters. Something I really wanted to do was help be apart of benefit shows and fundraisers. One of the most fulfilling things I could do is combine my passion for bringing people together to the sounds of music while also helping support communities locally and globally. I was able to be apart of the Palestine solidarity event at Queen City Radio, which had such a beautiful community turnout and thousands raised. I also personally planned a show at a local house venue known as The Chad House, and had my fellow DJ and friend set up their canned food drive near the entrance for a local food pantry. Overall, this was an experience that allowed me to let loose and explore my creativity and joy for music while also playing a role in being a global citizen scholar and help those around me.
