1. What major have you selected, at what college/university and why? * For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in how things work and why they do what they do. This was why I initially chose to major in Computer Science when I applied for UMBC (University of Maryland - Baltimore County). However, as I began my computer science class coursework, it did not really follow my original drive to pursue this degree. Therefore I started looking at other options and degrees that are still related to computers but would also allow me to learn how and why things work. This was how I discovered information systems. I was immediately intrigued with the course description and I thought that the program aligned with my initial curiosity and drive. Due to this fact, I changed my major and have been pursuing a degree in Information Systems at UMBC. 2. Share your strengths and weaknesses. * A strength of mine is that I do not know when to give up. I have a strong sense of perseverance in order to achieve my goal. This can also be a weakness of mine sometimes. Even if I am overwhelmed, I still try to focus on what I am doing and achieve my intended goal. 3. Who are you and why do you deserve the scholarship? * My name is Vushma Ahmad. I am a 21 year old first generation Pakistani immigrant. Growing up as a first-generation immigrant, pursuing a college degree has always been a dream of mine. However, due to the unaffordable tuition, I had to prioritize work in order to continue pursuing my degree. In addition to working outside the home, I had duties to fulfill at home since my parents would work long hours. Due to this, it was difficult for me to maintain a focus on my studies. Therefore, winning this scholarship will allow me to focus and prioritize my education and career and use my free time to pursue a variety of volunteer opportunities in order for me to make a more significant impact in my community. In addition, I will be able to pursue an internship to further my education in my field of study in information systems. 4. Tell me your favorite book/ movie/ song. * My favorite book is the Quran. I feel this way because no matter what it always has a calming effect in my life. Whenever I am going through a difficult time, I turn to the Quran for support. 5. As a Muslim, what do you consider your greatest achievement? * As a Muslim, my greatest achievement is being a part of the muslim youth community. Every sunday, my local mosque has Sunday school classes for the youth. These classes teach students the Arabic language as well as islamic studies

My favorite song on Taylor Swift's '1989' album is 'New Romantics'. When this album came out, my best friend and I would listen to the entire album on our way to and from school. When I first listened to this song, the lyrics stood out to me. When the album was released, I was having a hard time in my personal life and it was difficult for me to stay positive. I especially related to the lyrics, "We're all bored/We're all so tired of everything/We wait for trains that just aren't coming...Cause baby, I could build a castle/Out of all the bricks they threw at me/And every day is like a battle". I didn't have any passion or drive for the future ("And every day is like a battle") and was waiting for something to happen ("We wait for trains that just aren't coming") to give me purpose. Due to the relatability of these lyrics, It took me a while to understand the rest of the message conveyed in the rest of the song. Once I started paying attention to the rest of the song, I realized that the battle of self-motivation was something that I needed to overcome meaning nobody would save me; I would have to find the drive to do it on my own. The lyrics, "Heartbreak is the national anthem/We sing it proudly" helped me realize that what I am going through may be common but how I overcome it is what matters. This is further proven by the lyrics, "We are too busy dancing/To get knocked off our feet". Instead of focusing on the negativity of life or what I am going through, I should find something that I am passionate about and focus on that. This song saved me from living a life without ambition. Before '1989' was released, I was struggling with finding what I wanted out of life. However, once I listened to 'New Romantics' and found out that other people, even Taylor Swift, may have been in a similar situation reassured me in a sense. Specifically regarding the fact that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Furthermore, the fact that the issues that I was facing don't define me but instead how I overcame them through finding my personal drive is what is important. Although it was difficult to do so, I thank the fact that Taylor Swift released 'New Romantics' when she did because she not only helped but she also saved me by giving me the motivation to find my passions and live life to the fullest.

My dream version of my future self is someone who is passionate and takes risks to follow their dreams.