What are you involved in on campus and elsewhere?
On Campus, I am on the Illini Cheerleading Team and I am a member of the fraternity Beta Theta Pi. Off of campus, I intern at the family law firm Fred A. Joshua, P.C. I also volunteer at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Lombard, Illinois.
What’s your major/minor?
I am majoring in Political Science and minoring in Business.
Do you have any cool talents or hobbies? If so, what are they?
I love to exercise by cheerleading, lifting weights, and playing other sports recreationally. This is my sophomore year of college and it’s my first time ever really cheerleading, so it’s a new hobby. I love the feeling of learning new stunts and being able to do things I never thought were possible. It’s nice that the majority of my hobbies are exercise oriented because I feel like they complement one another and allow me to get better. I’m also phenomenal at taking really long naps.
Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?
Chipotle. I always eat Chipotle at home and because it’s located on my way back from class, it gets harder and harder to resist by the day. After Chipotle closes at 10 p.m., Burrito King is always a great late-night alternative.
Where is your favorite place to study on campus?
Irwin Academic Center is my favorite place on campus to study. I went for the first time this year because of cheerleading. Some of us on the team are required a certain amount of “study hours” a week at Irwin. Although I don’t have that requirement, I really like the atmosphere because it’s very rarely packed and I see teammates there all the time.
Who do you look up to most and why?
The people I look up to most are my parents. My parents came to the United States from Lebanon shortly after getting married with only $20 in their pockets. They have both worked nonstop for the last 20 years to ensure that my little sister and I have the best shot at a bright future. Until this day my dad still works 14-hour shifts that start in the middle of the night. My mom also works full time and always makes sure there’s something cooked for my family and that the house is clean. They do so much for my little sister and I, and I hope one day I can be as good of a parent as either one of them.
Celebrity Crush?
Mila Kunis **insert heart Emoji**
What is the highlight of your college career so far?
Initiating into Beta Theta Pi was the highlight of my college career so far. I surrounded myself with genuine men that I am beyond proud to call my brothers. After a semester of pledgeship, becoming an active member of the Fraternity gave me an enormous sense of accomplishment. I have a lot of respect for the principles that the fraternity is built on and am extremely proud to call myself a Beta.
What is your greatest accomplishment and why?
I believe my greatest accomplishment is reaching the level of happiness I am currently at. I got into the University of Illinois, which was a huge goal throughout high school. I am still very close with a great number of genuine friends from home and I have found lifelong friends in my fraternity. Cheerleading for a Big 10 school was never something I really saw myself doing. Trying out was a very last-second decision and I had no idea what to expect. Luckily I was fortunate enough to make a team filled with great people whom I consider close friends. The feeling of successfully hitting a new stunt or beginning to learn how to do flips in the air is exhilarating and the team really brings a lot of happiness into my life.
If you could go back in time and tell your freshman self something, what would you tell him?
Nothing. I’m very content with the decisions I’ve made both academically and socially and I wouldn’t want to tell myself anything that would alter how everything is now.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I hope to be an established attorney in Chicago and getting ready to run for an office in the Federal Government. I am still unsure about exactly what kind of law I want to practice, but a politician has always been the end goal. This is because I see a lot of injustice every day through the media and day-to-day life. I want to make a change for the better and build on hundreds of years of social progress this nation has made. I think implementing new legislation and being in a position to converse with other elected officials can put me in a really good place to make that difference.
Why did you choose U of I?
As a high school senior I was between U of I and a couple other Universities. All it took was one visit to this school for me to fall in love and be sure that this is where I want to be. I came into college thinking pre-law and there was a great opportunity to do that here. I really liked the college town feel that I got here, how big the University was, and the fact that it’s only a couple hours away from home.