Palestinian, from Acre; seeking Undergraduate degree in Chemistry and is enrolled at Case Western Reserve University.
Have you ever felt that no matter how hard you work, you will not be able to achieve your dream? I am Mohamad Diab, a Palestinian refugee, born and raised in Lebanon. My father studied medicine for 14 years to become a surgeon but could not use his medical degree to feed his family because he is a Palestinian refugee. He couldn't work at any hospital because he is a refugee. I experienced first hand how unfair the world is, and that while we are all created equal, some were by far less equal than others.
My mother, an engineer, faced the same challenge. She was overqualified for every job she applied for. Her identity stood in the way. But injustice never stopped my parents from trying to make the world a better place. My father works in the Red Crescent Society, my mother in an NGO that helps Palestinian students fund their university studies. They were never able to support my education financially. Our situation, worsened by the economic depression in the country, forced me to look for opportunities elsewhere. With a full scholarship, I studied the IB program at UWC, an international school in Armenia. Today I plan to major in chemistry at Case Western Reserve University in the US. I hope to use AI, computational chemistry and nano-medicine to improve drug design, early diagnosis and reducing side effects which result in higher chances of survival and better quality of life post-treatment for patients. I, like my parents, plan not to succumb to this unjust world and work tirelessly to make it a better place.
Why Would Donors Fund You?
Being refugees made life much harder on my family and hindered their ability to support me financially. However thanks to external financial support I succeeded at continuing my education. I plan to major in Chemistry which will provide me with plenty of opportunities, primarily in the healthcare field, to make a difference which will not be possible without your generous support.
How Do You Plan to Payback?
The field of healthcare requires much needed improvements in numerous areas. A chemistry major provides me with a strong foundation and flexibility to be able to adapt to this ever-evolving field. I am familiar with the benefits of medicine but I am also aware of its harmful effects. I hope to use new technologies like manipulating nanoparticles in medicine to ensure better delivery to the site and reduce the side effects for the patient. With a chemistry degree, I see a clear path to the healthcare field where I can make tangible change on the world. It also offers me other opportunities that may arise in the future for me to have a positive impact on people’s lives.
Volunteer Work/Social Capital
I volunteered as a lab assistant to help take care of the science labs and assist students in doing their lab work and writing lab reports.
In my 2 years at UWC, I volunteered as a Chemistry and Politics tutor, teaching students and helping them with course requirements.
Being a part of a diverse international community, I opened classes and created a syllabus and a fun program to teach members of this community the Arabic language.
During the covid-19 pandemic, I created educational videos in STEM subjects to help refugee students in UNRWA schools during lockdown, prepare for the Brevet official exams.
What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements
Received the United World College Dilijan (UWCD) certificate
2 courses in coding and robotics at SteamX, learning the C coding language and using arduino software and hardware.
Participated in PeaceTech, a workshop at AUB about how to use technology to promote peace.
Organized cultural events for the community; prepared presentations and dances that reflect my culture and country.
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