Just four Summers ago, everything as I knew it changed for me and my family. My mom traveled to the United States for research, and at first we thought it would only be for one year. I told myself I could handle one year - 365 days and after that, everything in my life would return to normal. But what was supposed to be a temporary move stretched into four years—and possibly more. I suddenly was faced with a reality I never imagined: starting high school in a new country, with a new language. I was now an outsider, a feeling that was new but that I would come to know very well. As a North African Muslim girl, stepping into an American public school for the first time was overwhelming. I carried my accent heavily and I quickly learned how apparent my differences were. I experienced racist remarks about my background, my religion, and even the way I spoke. My English, or rather my lack of it, became my greatest weakness. I often stayed quiet in class, too embarrassed to raise my hand even when I knew the answer. Or do I even know the answer? Ideas became doubts... Answers became questions and I began disappearing into conversations happening around me. Until I made a promise to myself: by the next school year, I would speak English with confidence. I began buckling up for yet another rough Summer. As junior year approached, things grew intense - but it became one of the most important turning points of my life. I took on Advanced Placement classes, prepared for testing and pushed myself far beyond the" limits" I once believed I had. That school year I went on to found the Muslim Student Association - Being located on the South Side of Chicago, my school is not particularly diverse in either race or religion. Creating that space for Muslim students meant creating visibility, representation, and a safe community in an environment where many of us felt isolated. The club gave me a platform to share my culture openly and confidently, something that once felt impossible when I was hiding behind silence. I can pay this back by being nice and helpful to other people no matter what they are because this is what Islam is all about. Inshallah my future plan is when I go to college I want to participate with the MSA community there and be part of it as much as possible because Through this I can help people more towards something really valuable and beautiful. Currently in my club I have non muslims who are really interested in Islam and want to know more about it. I have books in English that I read and made sure they are okay for them.

The brain is often called the most complex object in the known universe, and from a young age, I’ve been fascinated by its power, not just to control movement or memory, but to shape identity, emotion, and perception. My interest in neuroscience began with simple questions: How do we think? Why do we feel? Over time, this curiosity deepened, especially after witnessing the effects of Alzheimer’s on one of my close relatives. I became determined to study the brain and contribute to a future where we better understand such devastating diseases. As a student athlete, I know how important my brain is because most sports need Neuromuscular coordination. Our brain is the system that controls us. For example, I am tired, happy, angry, or even fine. All these are emotions that come from our brain that we can control but also can’t. My long future dream is to be a doctor, I am not sure what type of doctor but I really want to be one. When I was younger, I was always watching a lot of movies about doctors. However, when COVID started I was more determined to be a doctor because I saw how hard they were working and how it feels to be the reason for someone to live a life. From taking a lot of science classes, like Bio and chemistry, while also being in Stem classes, like human body system and medical intervention. It made me want this more and more but as I am looking at the majors that I can be in, neuroscience was one of my first choices.After graduating from UIC I am planning to take the MCAT and start applying for medical schools, and then start my pathway of being a doctor. I represent a really low percent of Muslim women that want to work as a neuroscience surgeon, one of the hardest parts of the body and field in the world. Additionally, I represent that nothing is impossible, change might be bad but you take a second this change might be needed. I always tell myself “everything happens for a reason” so it’s hard for me to get sad about something that is not meant for me but I don’t just give up on it. I want to make a change in the neuroscience field because I think the next generations coming up are going to be more into AI and advanced technology that might reflect negatively on the brain functions and sensors. The only thing that differentiate us from the robots are our brain and heart.

1- I believe I am a “you got it girl” because balancing fencing,swimming, and running has taught me discipline,commitment, and strong time-management skills. My accomplishments, like all the awards and qualifying to nationals, show how hard I work to succeed in every sport I pursue with being a student because I believe in being a student and an athlete. The YGIG scholarship would help me continue growing as a multi-sport athlete by giving me the support I need to train, compete, and reach my goals without financial barriers. 2- I compete in fencing and swimming, and I also run as part of my conditioning. I have been swimming competitively for five years and fencing for almost 4 years. During my time in high school,I was recognized as the best Distance swimmer of the year in 2023, and I received the Newcomer Award in cross country in 2022 during my freshman year. In fencing, I earned a scholarship in 2025, competed in multiple regional events, and qualified for summer nationals all 3 years. As I also have a D25 rating in fencing. 3- A challenge I faced was during fencing. When I first started as a freshman, I improved quickly and was seeing strong results.But by the end of my junior year, I suddenly wasn’t winning or performing at the level I knew I could. It was frustrating and discouraging, and for a moment I questioned my progress. With the support of my mom and coach, I was reminded that every athlete goes through ups and downs. Instead of giving up, I stayed committed, kept practicing, and focused on rebuilding my confidence. Over time, I started improving again. That setback became a monet of growth for me, it taught me resilience,patience, and the importance of pushing forward even when things aren’t going right. 4- someone I deeply admire and look up to is my mom. When we first came here to the US I left my club back in my home country and she was searching for a fencing club near us the minute we arrived here. She is the reason I am involved in all my sports, and I’m truly grateful that she encouraged me to try new things. She has supported me in every way, from paying for my training and equipment to driving me to practices everyday and traveling to tournaments near and far, while also having a full time job.She constantly reminds me that my hard work will pay off and pray for me all the time. What inspires me most about heroes is her dedication, her believing in me, and her willingness to sacrifice so I can chase my goals. Her support motivates me to push myself, stay committed, and never give up. 5- This scholarship would directly support my journey as an athlete, especially as I work toward pursuing fencing in college competitively like the college Div team. Fencing is a very expensive sport-gear like jackets, masks, and especially blades need to have at least 3 but blades break a lot, and the coast adds up quickly. Travelling to NaC’s, nationals, and other major tournaments is also expensive. There is a fee for the tournament and the event, I can play more than 1 event. Balancing that with school means I need reliable equipment and travel materials to stay prepared. With the YGIG scholarship, I would be able to afford the gear and travel necessary to keep competing at a high level. It would also allow me to take more private lessons, which will help me continue improving. Most importantly, this support would give me peace of mind so I can focus on my goals, compete confidently, and build the future I am working towards as both a college fencer and a student.

A Quiet Place is one of the movies that has had the greatest impact on my life. The movie uses a high-concept horror premise—silence as a means of survival—to explore universal human emotions and struggles like grief, guilt, sacrifice, and the complexities of family communication. This film's premise forces the audience into a heightened state of awareness, where every sound is a threat. It is a horror film directed by John Krasinski that focuses on the Abbott family's struggle for survival. This film powerfully exploration of themes like communication, loss, and parental sacrifice impacted me personally, providing a new perspective on these universal challenges. The film's forced silence created a powerful metaphor for the unsaid things in my own life or relationships. Like the scenes where the family must communicate silently, such as the tense scenes where Evelyn gives birth. The movie highlighted the tension and emotional burden of that silence. Seeing the family's dynamic made me re-examine my own communication habits. The second important point is the theme of grief, particularly Regan's guilt over her brother's death and her fractured relationship with her father, and how this resonated with my own experience of loss or regret. The most touchy part , the father, Lee, signs "I love you" to Regan before his ultimate sacrifice, finally healing their emotional rift. Witnessing this emotional climax helped me process my own feelings of grief or guilt. The film shows that forgiveness and moving forward are possible, even after immense tragedy. Furthermore, the deep theme of parental sacrifice, a core message of the film, and how it gave me a new appreciation for the protective love of family. Focus on the ending, where Lee's ultimate sacrifice saves his children and Evelyn is empowered to defend her remaining family. I Considered this powerful depiction of selfless love changed my understanding of what family members do for each other. This can be an opportunity to reflect on my own family's protectiveness or strength during difficult times. Finally, this movie portrays finding moments of joy and humanity despite constant fear, illustrating the resilience of the human spirit. I can’t forget the scene where Lee and Evelyn dance to Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" through shared headphones, creating an intimate, quiet space of normalcy. This scene inspired me to find and cherish small moments of beauty or happiness in my own challenging times. The film demonstrates that even when survival is the priority, culture, and connection remain essential to what makes life worth living. As a Conclusion, the film's core themes profoundly affected me. It is more than a horror story; it is a meditation on the fundamental nature of love, loss, and the silent strength that holds families together.

In June, 2022 everything completely changed to me and my family. My mom moved from Egypt to US to do her postdoctoral fellowship. In the beginning I was shocked, because, as a North African, Muslim girl going into her freshman year in an American public high school and doesn't speak English very well, I had a lot of bad experience with racism and bullying either towards my race or religion or even my accent. My English was my weakness. Sometimes I feel ashamed or shy to speak or say what I want because of my accent. It was hard in both culture and language sides in the beginning. English is my second language, and I know how hard to be in a place where you don’t belong, like being in regular class instead of Honors just because you are a second language. But through my way up in high school, I look at myself know as a senior and I can see how much I improved my writing and presentation skills. For the culture side, it took me a while to get used to it but I did and now I have friends that I feel safe and comfortable around them. Indeed, the summer before junior year, I saw the difference. I awarded All A’s Awards Sophomore, Junior year with a GPA 4.0 unweighted and 4.71 weighted. On the activity level, I was also the founder of Muslim Student Association club in my school., member in math team, student advisor of Bilingual Advisory Committee, and being in a lot of active organizations which include National Honor Society, Global glimpse, space explore program and volunteer in Hyde Park Coursity refugee Camp, community service Hyde Park and a lot more. In my volunteering with young refugee Camp, I focus on educating young kids about the impact of bullying, promoting empathy and kindness, and providing them with strategies to stand up against bullying. I believe that education and awareness are the most powerful tools to combat this issue. Finally, My journey is not done yet, I still have one more year of exploration before going to the next big step which is college. I have been diligent in applying for scholarships to alleviate the financial burden. Receiving grant would not only allow me to pursue my academic goals but also enable me to give back to my community in even more meaningful ways.

In June 2022, my life dramatically changed when my mother moved my family from Egypt to United States for a postdoctoral fellowship. Entering an American public high school as a North African freshman with limited English skills, I faced racism and cultural challenges. Despite these hardships, I vowed to improve my English, determined to thrive in my new environment. As non-American in American school it was hard to adjust to American culture and the language barrier., I truly believe that Maggie and I would have formed a meaningful connection. After learning about Maggie legacy, her commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. I see so many ways in which we are alike. Yet, at the same time, our differences would have complemented each other perfectly. To start, both Maggie and I share that English is our second language, and Being placed in regular classes instead of honors due to my language proficiency was disheartening, but I persevered. Over time, I gained confidence in my writing and presentation skills, made close friends, and began to feel a sense of belonging. If I had the honor of meeting Maggie today, I’d ask her , “What’s your secret?” I consider myself a hardworking, determined individual, but some days, it’s tough to keep going. Maggie’s achievements are a testament to the kind of drive I aspire to have. Like Maggie, my aspirations are huge! For months of hardworking, the junior year was the most intense but the best out of all, it was my first year to take AP classes but I saw the difference. I awarded All A’s Awards with a GPA 4.0. As I was also the founder of Muslim Student Association in my school, student advisor of Bilingual Advisory Committee, active member of National Honor Society, Global glimpse, space explore program, I would have loved the opportunity to learn from Maggie, to better understand how I can go beyond words and take meaningful action toward intellectually bold, and being up for a debate. It’s an area where I still have much to learn, and I know Maggie’s leadership would’ve been an incredible guide. At the same time, I wish she could have come with me to volunteer at Hyde Park Coursity refugee Camp, where we help refugee kids to develop their language and skills. I genuinely believe she would have loved the conversations that come from listening to those Kids. And may be, she could have even taught me how to face physical challenges!, being in multiple sports like swimming, running, archery and fencing. I proud to share with her my achievement. I awarded the Distance Swimmer2023, certified lifeguard 2025, licensing IHSA Swimming and track officials2025, Best Newcomer in cross-country2022. Certified Level 1 USA Archery Instructor, En Guarde Fencing Scholarship2025 and rated as D24 Epee fencer and L1 Epee referee. My journey is not done yet, I still have one more year of exploration and learning before going to the next big step which is college. Coming from a low income household, My family has always prioritized education, but affording college is a challenge. I am actively applying for scholarships to support my academic ambitions, with a desire to give back to my community in the future. Despite everything, I’m committed to living each day by Maggie’s core values: determination, resilience, exploration, and grit. To Maggie, you are an inspiration. Whether I am awarded this or not, I will continue to run fast like you, continue to uplift others like you, and most importantly, continue to smile while doing it.

In June, 2022 everything completely changed to me and my family. My mom moved from Egypt to US to do her postdoctoral fellowship. In the beginning I was shocked, sad and didn't want to realize what was happening, because, as a North African, Muslim girl going into her freshman year in an American public high school and doesn't speak English very well, I had a lot of bad experience with racism and bullying either towards my race or religion or even my accent. My English was my weakness. Sometimes I feel ashamed or shy to speak or say what I want because of my accent. After finding out we are going to stay here for longer, I vowed to myself that next year my English will be perfect. As non-American in American school it was hard in both culture and language sides in the beginning. English is my second language, and I know how hard to be in a place where you don’t belong, like being in regular class instead of Honors just because you are a second language. But through my way up in high school, I look at myself know as a senior and I can see how much I improved my writing and presentation skills. For the culture side, it took me a while to get used to it but I did and now I have friends that I feel safe and comfortable around them. Indeed, the summer before junior year was the most intense but the best out of all, because that was my first year to take AP classes and SAT/ACT, which was not the greatest but I saw the difference. I awarded All A’s Awards Sophomore, Junior year with a GPA 4.0 unweighted and 4.79 weighted. On the activity level, I was also the founder of Muslim Student Association (MSA) club in my school., member in math team, student advisor of Bilingual Advisory Committee, and being in a lot of active organizations which include National Honor Society, Global glimpse, space explore program and volunteer in Hyde Park Coursity refugee Camp, community service Hyde Park and a lot more. On the sport level, being in multiple sports like swimming cross-country /track and field, archery and fencing. I proud of my achievement in each of them. I awarded the Distance Swimmer Award-Kenwood Academy-Fall2023, became a certified lifeguard 2025, licensing IHSA Swimming and track officials 2025-2026, Best Newcomer in cross-country Award -Kenwood Academy-Fall2022. Certified Level 1 USA Archery Instructor, awarded En Guarde Fencing Scholarship -2025 and rated as D24 Epee fencer and L1 Epee referee. Finally, My journey is not done yet, I still have one more year of exploration and learning from my mistakes before going to the next big step which is college. Coming from a low to middle -income household, My family has always prioritized education , but with limited resources, affording college is a challenge. I have been diligent in applying for scholarships and grants to alleviate the financial burden. Receiving financial aid would not only allow me to pursue my academic goals but also enable me to give back to my community in even more meaningful ways.

In June 2022 everything completely changed to me and my family. My mom moved from Egypt to US to do her postdoctoral fellowship. In the beginning I was shocked, sad and didn't want to realize what was happening, because, as a North African, Muslim girl going into her freshman year in an American public high school and doesn't speak English very well, I had a lot of bad experience with racism and bullying either towards my race or religion or even my accent. My English was my weakness. Sometimes I feel ashamed or shy to speak or say what I want because of my accent. After finding out we are going to stay here for longer, I vowed to myself that next year my English will be perfect. As non-American in American school it was hard in both culture and language sides in the beginning. English is my second language, and I know how hard to be in a place where you don’t belong, like being in regular class instead of Honors just because you are a second language. But through my way up in high school, I look at myself know as a senior and I can see how much I improved my writing and presentation skills. For the culture side, it took me a while to get used to it but I did and now I have friends that I feel safe and comfortable around them. Indeed, the summer before junior year was the most intense but the best out of all, because that was my first year to take AP classes and SAT/ACT, which was not the greatest, but I saw the difference. I awarded All A’s Awards Sophomore, Junior year with a GPA 4.0 unweighted and 4.79 weighted. On the activity level, I was also the founder of Muslim Student Association (MSA) club in my school., member in math team, student advisor of Bilingual Advisory Committee, and being in a lot of active organizations which include National Honor Society, Global glimpse, space explore program and volunteer in Hyde Park Coursity refugee Camp, community service Hyde Park and a lot more. In my volunteering with young refugee Camp, I focus on educating young kids about the impact of bullying, promoting empathy and kindness, and providing them with strategies to stand up against bullying. In today’s digital age, bullying has taken on new forms, and cyberbullying has become a dangerous reality for many young people. I believe that education and awareness are the most powerful tools to combat this issue. On the sport level, being in multiple sports like swimming cross-country /track and field, archery and fencing. I proud of my achievement in each of them. I awarded the Distance Swimmer Award-Kenwood Academy-Fall2023, became a certified lifeguard 2025, licensing IHSA Swimming and track officials 2025-2026, Best Newcomer in cross-country Award -Kenwood Academy-Fall2022. Certified Level 1 USA Archery Instructor awarded En Guarde Fencing Scholarship -2025 and rated as D24 Epee fencer and L1 Epee referee. Finally, my journey is not done yet, I still have one more year of exploration and learning from my mistakes before going to the next big step which is college. Coming from a low to middle -income household, my family has always prioritized education, but with limited resources, affording college is a challenge. I have been diligent in applying for scholarships and grants to alleviate the financial burden. Receiving financial aid would not only allow me to pursue my academic goals but also enable me to give back to my community in even more meaningful ways.

In June, 2022 everything completely changed to me and my family. My mom moved from Egypt to US to do her postdoctoral fellowship. In the beginning I was shocked, sad and didn't want to realize what was happening, because, as a North African, Muslim girl going into her freshman year in an American public high school and doesn't speak English very well, I had a lot of bad experience with racism either towards my race or religion or even my accent. My English was my weakness. Sometimes I feel ashamed or shy to speak or say what I want because of my accent. After finding out we are going to stay here for longer, I vowed to myself that next year my English will be perfect. After learning about Kalia D. Davis legacy her dedication and her commitment to both academic and athletic excellence I see so many ways in which we are alike and I will complete my road with her inspiration. If I met her I would like to told her about my experience As non-American in American school it was hard in both culture and language sides in the beginning. English is my second language, and I know how hard to be in a place where you don’t belong, like being in regular class instead of Honors just because you are a second language. But through my way up in high school, I look at myself know as a senior and I can see how much I improved my writing and presentation skills. For the culture side, it took me a while to get used to it but I did and now I have friends that I feel safe and comfortable around them. Indeed, the summer before junior year was the most intense but the best out of all, because that was my first year to take AP classes and SAT/ACT, which was not the greatest but I saw the difference. I awarded All A’s Awards Sophomore, Junior year with a GPA 4.0 unweighted and 4.79 weighted. On the activity level, I was also the founder of Muslim Student Association (MSA) club in my school., member in math team of school, student advisor of Bilingual Advisory Committee taking all honors and AP classes, and being in a lot of active organizations which include National Honor Society, Global glimpse, space explore program and volunteer in Hyde Park Coursity refugee Camp, community service Hyde Park and a lot more. Who can tell that the person in the beginning of this simple, impression, and self-explained essay was the same person in the two sentences above!!. On the sport level, being in multiple sports like swimming cross-country /track and field, archery and fencing. I proud to share with Kalia my achievement in each of them. I awarded the Distance Swimmer Award-Kenwood Academy-Fall2023, became a certified lifeguard 2025, licensing IHSA Swimming and track officials 2025-2026, Best Newcomer in cross-country Award -Kenwood Academy-Fall2022. Certified Level 1 USA Archery Instructor, awarded En Guarde Fencing Scholarship -2025 and rated as D24 Epee fencer and L1 Epee referee. Finally, My journey is not done yet, I still have one more year of exploration and learning from my mistakes before going to the next big step which is college. I hope I can get opportunity like Kalia for receiving a full ride to the University. I aim to take the pre-med track, may be in future I can contribute to treatment of many patients who may suffer from rare and incurable diseases.

Of all the lessons I have learned, the most transformative have been those taught not in a classroom, but in the quiet, often arduous, journey of navigating my own mental health. This deeply personal experience has fundamentally reshaped my beliefs, deepened my relationships, and crystallized my career aspirations, forging a path forward defined by empathy, purpose, and a commitment to supporting others. In June, 2022 everything completely changed to me and my family. My mom moved from Egypt to US to do her postdoctoral fellowship. In the beginning I was shocked, sad and didn't want to realize what was happening, because, as a North African, Muslim girl going into her freshman year in an American public high school and doesn't speak English very well, I had a lot of bad experience with racism either towards my race or religion or even my accent. My English was my weakness. Sometimes I feel ashamed or shy to speak or say what I want because of my accent. After finding out we are going to stay here for longer, I vowed to myself that next year I will be perfect. My experience began not as a moment of crisis, but as a persistent undercurrent of anxiety that colored my perception of the world and myself. Throughout high school, I held the common but damaging belief that mental health struggles were a sign of weakness, a personal failing to be hidden and endured alone. This belief system, however, crumbled under the weight of its own impossibility. Through therapy and self-education, I underwent a profound paradigm shift. I came to understand that mental health is not a binary state of "well" or "unwell," but a continuum on which we all exist. I now believe that struggling is not a failure, but a human experience, and that seeking help is among the bravest and most responsible acts of self-care one can undertake. This new belief is rooted in compassion—for myself and for others—and has replaced judgment with curiosity and understanding. This shift in perspective radically altered the fabric of my relationships. Where I once might have offered a quick solution to a friend’s distress, I now strive to offer a listening ear free of judgment. My own vulnerability became a gateway to deeper connection, allowing others to feel safe in sharing their own struggles. I learned that empathy is not about fixing someone’s problems, but about sitting with them in their discomfort, validating their feelings, and assuring them they are not alone. My friendships have become more authentic, my family relationships more communicative, and my capacity for patience and genuine connection has grown exponentially. I now see relationships as a mutual source of strength, built on a foundation of shared vulnerability rather than perceived perfection. My experience with mental health has been my most difficult teacher, but also my most valuable. It has given me a new lens through which to see the world—one focused on healing, connection, and the profound strength found in vulnerability. It has taught me that our deepest struggles can become the source of our greatest purpose, and it is this purpose that I now hope to dedicate my life and career to fulfilling. This scholarship would provide crucial support as I work toward this goal of turning my personal experience into professional competency to serve my community.

In June, 2022 everything completely changed to me and my family. My mom moved from Egypt to US to do her postdoctoral fellowship. In the beginning it was set to be only for 6 months, only 6months and everything in my life is going to be normal again. However, Something happened that changed all this and instead of only 6 months it became 5 or more years. In the beginning I was shocked, sad and didn't want to realize what was happening, because, as a North African, Muslim girl going into her freshman year in an American public high school and doesn't speak English very well, I had a lot of bad experience with racism either towards my race or religion or even my accent. My English was my weakness. Sometimes I feel ashamed or shy to speak or say what I want because of my accent. After finding out we are going to stay here for longer, I vowed to myself that next year my English will be perfect. The summer before my sophomore year, some of my friends helped me to speak more fluently. I watched a lot of movies, I listened to English music, and I took some classes in the summer that made me better. Sophomore year was the twist of all the things that happened before, a lot of people were complimenting me and wanted to know more about my culture and religion. Indeed, the summer before junior year was the most intense but the best out of all, because that was my first year to take AP classes and SAT/ACT, which was not the greatest but I saw the difference. I awarded All A’s Awards Sophomore, Junior year. On the activity level, I was also the founder of Muslim Student Association (MSA) club in my school. My school is in the south side of Chicago and it’s not really diverse neither in race or religion. As you can tell, I have a club that represents my religion/culture, member in math team of school, student advisor of Bilingual Advisory Committee taking all honors and AP classes, and being in a lot of active organizations which include National Honor Society, Global glimpse community service/Leadership, Turblia, Costa Rica, space explore program and volunteer in Hyde Park Coursity refugee Camp, community service Hyde Park and a lot more. Who can tell that the person in the beginning of this simple, impression, and self-explained essay was the same person in the two sentences above!!. On the sport level, being in multiple sports like swimming cross-country /track and field, archery and fencing. I proud with my achievement each of them. I awarded the Distance Swimmer Award-Kenwood Academy-Fall2023, Best Newcomer in cross-country Award -Kenwood Academy-Fall2022. Certified as Level 1 USA Archery Instructor, awarded En Guarde Fencing Scholarship -2025 and rated as D24 Epee fencer and L1 Epee referee. But through my way up in high school, I look at myself now as a senior and I can see how much I improved my writing and presentation skills. For the culture side, it took me a while to get used to it but I did and now I have friends that I feel safe and comfortable around them. That give me the inspire to be leader who uplifts, inspires, or supports the people around me. Finally, My journey is not done yet, I still have one more year of exploration and learning from my mistakes before going to the next big step which is college. This grant will be the first step for achieving my goal to start my pre-med track Journy.

In June, 2022 everything completely changed to me and my family. My mom moved from Egypt to US to do her postdoctoral fellowship. In the beginning it was set to be only for 6 months, only 6months and everything in my life is going to be normal again. However, Something happened that changed all this and instead of only 6 months it became 5 or more years. In the beginning I was shocked, sad and didn't want to realize what was happening, because, as a North African, Muslim girl going into her freshman year in an American public high school and doesn't speak English very well, I had a lot of bad experience with racism either towards my race or religion or even my accent. My English was my weakness. Sometimes I feel ashamed or shy to speak or say what I want because of my accent. After finding out we are going to stay here for longer, I vowed to myself that next year my English will be perfect. The summer before my sophomore year, some of my friends helped me to speak more fluently. I watched a lot of movies, I listened to English music, and I took some classes in the summer that made me better. Sophomore year was the twist of all the things that happened before, a lot of people were complimenting me and wanted to know more about my culture and religion. Indeed, the summer before junior year was the most intense but the best out of all, because that was my first year to take AP classes and SAT/ACT, which was not the greatest but I saw the difference. I awarded All A’s Awards Sophomore, Junior year. On the activity level, I was also the founder of Muslim Student Association (MSA) club in my school. My school is in the south side of Chicago and it’s not really diverse neither in race or religion. As you can tell, I have a club that represents my religion/culture, member in math team of school, student advisor of Bilingual Advisory Committee taking all honors and AP classes, and being in a lot of active organizations which include National Honor Society, Global glimpse community service/Leadership, Turblia, Costa Rica, space explore program and volunteer in Hyde Park Coursity refugee Camp, community service Hyde Park and a lot more. Who can tell that the person in the beginning of this simple, impression, and self-explained essay was the same person in the two sentences above!!. On the sport level, being in multiple sports like swimming cross-country /track and field, archery and fencing. I proud with my achievement each of them. I awarded the Distance Swimmer Award-Kenwood Academy-Fall2023, Best Newcomer in cross-country Award -Kenwood Academy-Fall2022. Certified as Level 1 USA Archery Instructor, awarded En Guarde Fencing Scholarship -2025 and rated as D24 Epee fencer and L1 Epee referee. But through my way up in high school, I look at myself now as a senior and I can see how much I improved my writing and presentation skills. For the culture side, it took me a while to get used to it but I did and now I have friends that I feel safe and comfortable around them. That give me the inspire to be leader who uplifts, inspires, or supports the people around me. Finally, My journey is not done yet, I still have one more year of exploration and learning from my mistakes before going to the next big step which is college. This grant will be the first step for achieving my goal to start my pre-med track Journy.

In June, 2022 everything completely changed to me and my family. My mom moved from Egypt to US to do her postdoctoral fellowship. In the beginning it was set to be only for 6 months, only 6months and everything in my life is going to be normal again. However, Something happened that changed all this and instead of only 6 months it became 5 or more years. In the beginning I was shocked, sad and didn't want to realize what was happening, because, as a North African, Muslim girl going into her freshman year in an American public high school and doesn't speak English very well, I had a lot of bad experience with racism either towards my race or religion or even my accent. My English was my weakness. Sometimes I feel ashamed or shy to speak or say what I want because of my accent. After finding out we are going to stay here for longer, I vowed to myself that next year my English will be perfect. The summer before my sophomore year, some of my friends helped me to speak more fluently. I watched a lot of movies, I listened to English music, and I took some classes in the summer that made me better. Sophomore year was the twist of all the things that happened before, a lot of people were complimenting me and wanted to know more about my culture and religion. Indeed, the summer before junior year was the most intense but the best out of all, because that was my first year to take AP classes and SAT/ACT, which was not the greatest but I saw the difference. I awarded All A’s Award. On the activity level, I was also the founder of Muslim Student Association club in my school. My school is in the south side of Chicago and it’s not really diverse neither in race or religion. As you can tell, I have a club that represents my religion/culture, member in math team of school, student advisor of Bilingual Advisory Committee, and being in a lot of active organizations as National Honor Society, Global glimpse, space explore program and volunteer in Coursity refugee Camp and a lot more. Who can tell that the person in the beginning of this simple, impression, and self-explained essay was the same person in the two sentences above!!. On the sport level, being in multiple sports like swimming cross-country , archery and fencing. I proud with my achievement in each of them. I awarded the Distance Swimmer Award 2023, Best Newcomer in cross-country Award 2022. Certified as Level 1 USA Archery Instructor, awarded En Guarde Fencing Scholarship -2025 and rated as D24 Epee fencer and L1 Epee referee. Finally, My journey is not done yet, I still have one more year of exploration and learning from my mistakes before going to the next big step which is college. This grant will be the first step for achieving my goal to start my pre-med track Journy.

The Muslim community, often referred to as the Ummah, is a diverse and vibrant global population united by the faith of Islam. With over 1.9 billion followers worldwide, Muslims come from a wide array of cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds, yet they share a common belief in the oneness of God (Allah) and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). The community is guided by the Quran, Islam’s holy book, and the teachings (Sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad. Its core pillars are faith (Iman), worship (Ibadah), and communal bonds (Ukhuwah). The Islamic community didn't just surround me—it fundamentally shaped my values, resilience, and sense of purpose. We have a Shared Values & Rituals which consider the heart of community include but not limited to: Unity in Diversity as Muslims from varying cultures united by Salah (prayer), Ramadan, Eid. Compassion & Service like Zakat (charity), community kitchens, visiting the sick. In addition to, Collective Worship which notice in the power of praying shoulder-to-shoulder, breaking fasts together. Seeing a stranger treated like family at the mosque taught me that dignity is universal. Communities aren’t just joined; they become part of who we are. The Islamic Ummah taught me that faith is a verb—prayed in congregation, lived in service, and felt in the unwavering hand of a stranger who calls you 'sister. Which is special to me and to anyone, to have a people who can help you anywhere you go. Many people have wrong information about Islam, this is my religion I am proud and satisfied to be part of this culture, group, and community. In a world where Muslims are often misunderstood, the community became my anchor. It taught me pride in my faith without arrogance. Attending Lessons from Quran circles or sermons on honesty, patience (Sabr), and trust in Allah (Tawakkul) add to my experience. For example, When I faced failure, that reminded me that struggle (Jihad al-Nafs) is part of growth. Furthermore, it has role in improve my Responsibility & Service by Volunteering at mosque events or disaster relief drives instilled leadership and the duty to give back. Although there are some challenges as Navigating cultural differences within the Ummah challenged me to separate faith from tradition, deepening my own understanding of Islam’s core principles. Islam has shaped me and directed me to do the right thing and to know the difference between wrong and right in a lot of different concepts. Also, it showed me how to respect different people, cultures and religions, which is a thing the most people fail to understand. I am grateful and thankful for what Islam had teach me and is still going to teach me through my life. Finally, The Islamic community molded me not into a rigid ideal, but into someone striving to live by compassion, justice, and faith. Finally, Ismat's Scholarship showed me that submission to the Divine is lived through service to others—and that journey continues.