I attended Sycamore Elementary School, Bess Race Elementary School, H.F. Stevens Middle School, Crowley 9th Grade Center and Crowley High School. 

Who was your most influential teacher?
In these four years, I have encountered some of the most magnanimous and compassionate human beings that I will ever know, and each of them has left a unique and lasting impact on who I am as an individual and as a member of society. 

At Sycamore Elementary, I will always remember Mrs. Massey who taught me what it meant to be kind. At Bess Race Elementary, I had the honor of knowing Mrs. Hansen who helped me to see a world painted with words. At H.F. Stevens, Mrs. Barton helped me realize that my pitfalls could only bring me down as far as I let them. At the 9th Grade Center, Ms. Perry, who was not actually my teacher, but ended up being so much more, gave me a home in the form of a classroom and renewed my hopes for a world where people truly care about one another. 

At CHS, I was bombarded by a plethora of great people, but the one person that stood out the most was a mentor that appeared to have been passed down to me. Mrs. Rebecca Stevenson taught various levels of Spanish to all three of my sisters, my twin brother, and me, but only I had her for three years and what an unforgettable three years they were. Señora is the walking definition of strength and elegance. I knew this already from my sisters, but what I personally came to love most about her was her sharp sense of humor and thirst for knowledge that rivaled my own. Furthermore, the most inspiring quality that Señora possesses is her sense of justice. She does what is right, not what is easy, and expects the same from her students. That is the legacy that I will hope to carry with me through the rest of my life and to Señora—I cannot tell you what a privilege it has been to have you as my teacher, but even more so I cannot express in words what an honor it is to call you my friend. 

What is your greatest memory or memories of high school?
My most enduring memory has to have been the day of the English STAAR my sophomore year. I was in a room full of people I only saw on testing days, and the exam itself was a dismal affair, but what else would you expect? So after we finished, we were given a lunch period in our testing room, and on a whim, I pulled out a deck of cards. Our game started off small, but soon enough, I was playing spoons with most of the class -- a collection of athletes, academics, fine arts kids and even a wayward philosopher. All the while, we were talking to one another about our lives, plans for after school, and of course, how much we did not like the STAAR. In the end, I had lost track of how many times I’d laughed in that short period of time and realized that I shared so much more than the first letter of my last name with the people around me. 

What are your plans for college/future?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Arlington and will be majoring in Biology. After, I hope to attend medical school at UT Southwestern. From there, I would like to get some hands-on experience before joining Doctors Without Borders, so that I may travel the world and lend my strength where it is needed. While overseas, I hope to document the stories of the people I encounter so that I may ensure that this world is as tolerant and educated as it can be. 

What clubs/groups/activities were you involved in at CHS?
I was President of the Future Business Leaders of America, President of the Junior Class, President of the AP Ambassadors, a member of the Principal’s Leadership Cabinet, a member of FCCLA (Family, Careers and Community Leaders of America), Treasurer of the Student Council, a member of Key Club, a member of the Teen Board, a member of the Debate Team, a member of the UIL Team and President of the National Honor Society. 

Do you have any siblings in CISD schools or that graduated from CISD?
All three of my sisters graduated from Crowley High School and two were Valedictorians before me. The first, Etidal, has just received her second Bachelor’s Degree and graduated from CHS in 2009. She has attended UT Austin and TWU, and she is now a full-fledged nurse. She hopes to go back for her Master’s Degree soon. The second, Iman, was Valedictorian in 2011 and graduated from UT Austin as well. She now works for a private company as a research analyst for international conflicts. The third, Mary, was Valedictorian in 2013 and graduated from UT Dallas this year. She will receive her Master’s Degree this December and is interning with the NAACP this summer in Washington D.C.. My twin brother, Sayed, will be graduating with me this year and plans to attend UT Arlington as well with a major in Business Administration. 
My mother did not get to attend college because of financial issues and grew up in Pennsylvania. My father was born and raised in Lebanon and did not get to finish high school because of a civil war in his home country. In Lebanon, my father was first in his class and in his final year, he was Valedictorian but he never got to walk the stage. My mother is the sun and my father is the earth that grounds me. This is for them. 

My favorite quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 

 

What schools did you attend at Crowley ISD?
I attended Sycamore Elementary School in Kindergarten, but moved to Houston afterwards for a few years. I then moved back, went to Poynter Elementary School for 4th-6th grade and H.F. Stevens for middle school before reaching Crowley High School.

Who was your most influential teacher?
I've been influenced by every one of my teachers in Crowley, and each has left a distinct impact on me. However, a few outstanding teachers come to mind when I think about who has helped me become the person I am today. Mrs. Samuels, who pushed me to my limit and then showed me I could go even farther. Mr. Weaver, who put up with countless hours after school with the Robotics Club, building, rebuilding and even more building. Mr. Viotto, who was the first person to show me that history was a fascinating adventure and not just dates and facts. Mrs. Thames and Mrs. Marshall, whose caring and openness made the stressful chaos of junior year into something a bit more bearable.

What is your greatest memory or memories of high school?
My favorite memories of high school were the fun projects we all did in AP classes after testing was over. Whether it was bringing in food from different cultures in English, or watching our teacher's self-made films in European History, we were finally able to relax from all the back-to-back testing.

What clubs/groups/activities were you involved in at CHS?
I was the President of Robotics Club, Vice President of National Honor Society, Treasurer of FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) and Event Coordinator for AP Ambassadors. I also volunteered with the Crowley Honor Choir, which I was a part of in elementary school. I participated in Mathematics, Number Sense and Social Studies UIL.

What are your plans for college/future?
Next year, I am attending University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em!) and majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

Do you have any siblings in CISD schools or that graduated from CISD?
I have an older brother, Andrew, who graduated from Crowley in 2014 and currently attends University of Texas at Austin, and a little sister, Alanna, who is in 6th grade at David Walker Intermediate School.