MARIAM

12/4/24 at 4:45pm

Junior studying Data Science

What motivates you when you wake up?

My motivation is definitely my mom. I think legacy is what pushes me to do what I do every day. She is the person who encourages me and takes care of me whether she is with me or not, which is rare since I'm an international student. Besides her, my friends and my boyfriend also motivate me every day. 

It sounds like the people in your life are incredibly important to you. What do you do to feel connected with them?

Definitely calling as much as we can. At this point in life, I am far away from the people I love. My mom has a very intense job, I don’t see my brother very often, and my boyfriend and best friend aren’t here with me in Ann Arbor. It’s lots of calls, lots of texts. It’s important just to have that space to be together. If I don’t make that space, I end up just feeling lonely as hell. 

You are not alone in that. Staying connected to those you love is so vital. How do you find community with others on campus?

My roommate invites me all the time to join their friend group, and I’m so grateful for that. Almost every day we all go up and study in the Duderstadt, sometimes until 3:00am. There's also a group of guys I met during my first orientation, and they’ve helped me through my time here. Study sessions are a big thing. We go out on the weekend. We love Necto. (And Cantina is overrated). I love hanging out with them. Special moments with them while studying, or even just riding the bus together, have helped me through this semester.

To find community, we don’t need to have too much in common. Only one of my friends is in my major. All it boils down to is finding people you resonate with. Honestly, this whole STEM thing is not for me. But, I have to do it. I’m more of a social sciences and humanities person. But I have pushed myself into the STEM route for the money and for a stable job. But, I love finding people to spend time with outside of my major. It’s great to hear different perspectives. 

Are you working on finding joy in your STEM work or where do you find joy outside of work?

I have found joy outside of my STEM work, which has made my experience with my major more bearable. I find absolutely no joy in the work itself, but I love to take classes that have nothing to do with my area of study to sneak in different areas of interest. Right now I’m taking a Colonial Latin American History class, which has been so awesome. The fun I have there compensates for my EECS classes. 

Can you tell me about your relationship with the idea of being an adult?

I hate it so much. Every birthday feels a little scarier. But,  feel like I’ve felt like an adult for so much of my life. My mom has always been hard working, and my brother and I aren’t really the best of friends. I don’t have a father figure, so I have always found out how to do most things myself. I’ve cooked for myself since I was seven years old. I started taking college courses my sophomore year of high school and graduated a year early. It’s just small things like that which have made me feel old for a while. I don’t feel like turning 18 makes you an adult, I feel like all of these experiences contribute to whether or not you might feel ready. But let me be clear: the years are getting scary. 

Is there a question you feel like you are still searching for an answer for? 

Wow, that is a great question. I think I am still learning what I am meant to do. What is my purpose? I am working on finding that.

Aren't we all?

Yes, for sure.