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Fatima Nadeem

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Embroidery And Cross Stitching
  • Writing
  • Reading
  • Urdu
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Crafting
  • Politics and Political Science
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Badminton
  • Calligraphy
  • Government
  • History
  • Henna
  • Human Rights
  • International Relations
  • Jewelry Making
  • Scrapbooking
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Public Policy

Reading

  • Romance
  • Contemporary
  • Cultural
  • Fantasy
  • Young Adult
  • Thriller
  • Religion
  • Novels
  • Literature

I read books daily.

Bio

Fatima Nadeem is a Pakistani-American with a strong passion for politics, advocacy, and justice. Growing up between Pakistan and America, she experienced firsthand the complexities of immigration while trying to reunite her family. This journey fueled her desire to become an immigration attorney, advocating for families facing similar challenges. Currently a senior at Davidson Early College High School, Fatima is deeply engaged in a rigorous academic curriculum, balancing high school and college courses since her freshman year. Fatima is also pursuing additional coursework at Davidson-Davie Community College to specialize in Civil Litigation through a Paralegal Technology certification.

Education

Elon University

Technical bootcamp

2024 – 2024

Majors:
  • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other

Davidson Early College

High School

2021 – 2025

Davidson County Community College

Associate's degree program

2021 – 2025

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
Political Science and Government, Social Sciences, General
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • John M. Belk Impact Fellow

    Education · LatinxEd

    Jan 2024 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Civic & Social Organization
Dream career goals:
Immigration Attorney
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Politics
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Kristen McCartney Perseverance Scholarship
Winner
I stared at the drawer filled with blinding colors and excessive sparkles. Instead of joy, I felt deep regret. Years of unused stickers stared back at me—hundreds of missed opportunities because I waited for the perfect moment. Staring at a chunk of my childhood that never left this drawer made me realize there would never be that one ideal moment. From that day, I made it my mission to use my stickers, a seemingly easy task I had made impossible. I loved how stickers reflected my interests—from my obsession with Winx Club and old Barbie movies to my love for my Pakistani culture. They symbolized who I was and who I aspired to be. As I used them beside my chemistry notes to make the periodic table less intimidating, in my planner to match my mood, and in my scrapbook to capture moments, I realized my hesitation stemmed from something beyond stickers. I was always waiting for the perfect moment. But opportunities only emerged when I stopped waiting and began chasing. Although I was born in America, part of my childhood unfolded in the bustling city of Gujranwala, Pakistan. I felt whole surrounded by family, sipping steaming hot chai each afternoon and riding through colorful street markets each morning. Compared to my life in America, I felt at ease among people who looked like me. But, like my cherished stickers left untouched in a drawer, I took these everyday joys for granted. In a week, all of this was snatched away. Violence broke out in my city, and my parents fled with me and my siblings back to America, a world away from my extended family. The void left by their absence followed me everywhere. Seeking to reunite with them, I immersed myself in America’s immigration system, only to discover how deeply flawed it was. This realization almost made me shove my dream of reuniting with my family into the drawer with my forgotten stickers. Determined not to wait for the perfect moment, I pursued immigration advocacy. I conducted qualitative research at Wake Forest University, spoke with refugees at the North Carolina African Services Coalition, and interned with an immigration attorney to provide free legal services. I assisted immigrants and refugees with N-400s, I-130s, and other forms that once felt foreign to me. Seeing the impact of my work firsthand reassured me that I was honoring my family back in Pakistan. This journey has fueled my dream to become an immigration attorney. Motivated by my personal story, I am particularly eager to research the legal implications of mixed-status families and their long-term effects. As I graduate high school with an Associate in Arts and a certificate in Paralegal Technology (Civil Litigation), I plan to major in Global Cultural Studies at Duke University to further this research. After earning my undergraduate degrees, I hope to attend law school and obtain a Juris Doctor. Despite South Asians making up 25 to 29% of Asian American immigrants, there is a lack of South Asian immigration attorneys. I aspire to bridge this gap by opening my own firm and providing the representation my community needs. Additionally, I hope to launch a nonprofit initiative supporting refugees with legal, educational, and professional resources to help them settle into a new country. As I learned to use my stickers spontaneously, I realized my ambitions to fight for my community could not wait for the perfect moment. Change starts now, with every bit of knowledge I gain. I no longer wait for opportunities—I create them.
Fatima Nadeem Student Profile | Bold.org