Spotlight

Mathew Hakimi

Senior, Peer Mentor

"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." - Vince Lombardi

This profound statement has not only shaped my work ethic, but also resonates with my journey as a student who comes from a background of limited access to higher education. While my parents had unconventional childhoods, with education rendered a luxury that was not pursued by all, they never stopped encouraging me to reach for the stars and pursue my academic passions. They, like Vince Lombardi, were well aware that perfection is something that can never truly be attained. But, they also knew that without “dreaming big” and removing the self-imposed obstacles to success created by doubt, one could never “catch excellence.”

It wasn’t until my first year in college that I realized this. Without severing myself from the future I thought was prescribed to me as the son, nephew, or grandson of individuals who did not acquire a college degree, I would not have been able to achieve my greatest accomplishments as both an undergraduate student and member of society. Furthermore, I would not have pushed myself to pursue my dream of going to medical school and becoming a physician who will leave an impact on the field of medicine. So, while perfection may not be attainable, this does not stop me from reaching for it; I do and will continue to aspire to be the perfect son, student, scientist, friend, and member of the community, irrespective of my family’s past, because with that ambition I can surely accomplish something excellent. 

Tazmin Rahman

Sophomore, Proud Mentor

"Work hard in silence; let your success be your noise." - Frank Ocean

As a child of immigrants, I had learned from a young age that nothing would ever be handed to me. Since I was a little girl, I had watched my father go to work at 9 in the morning and return at 11 every night. Each night, he returned with his hands marred with burn marks of all colors and sizes. These scars ran up his forearm, some fading against his dark skin, others red and vibrant. I was intrigued by his scars because every day a new one seemed to appear. When I was little, I would ask him, “Did you get a new burn?” and he would smile, pat my head and say yes. He would then sit me on his lap and create this intricate story of how there was a dragon outside the apartment and in order to keep me safe, he needed to kill it but in the process, he had gotten hurt. Every so often when he would get a new burn mark and I noticed, he would create an equally enchanting story about me, a brutish dragon and himself. Once I grew up, I realized the truth. The dragon was real; it was financial instability and my dad was protecting me from it. He wanted to keep me from having a childhood defined by financial struggle. My father never complained about these wounds, no matter how excruciatingly painful they looked, he would still get up every single day and go cook for others, knowing that there was a strong possibility that his skin would be marred once again by hot oil. He did it to support his family and to provide his children with a better future.

Those physical reminders taught me the importance of gumption, hunger, perseverance and humility. Success cannot be achieved without recognizing the scars one endured to get to ones’ peak and you cannot attain success without persistence. But humility is the key to being successful, without recognizing your shortcomings you cannot grow and become a better version of yourself. Humility allows you to remember things will not be handed to you and help you maintain the fire in your soul to pursue your dreams and make yourself into that person you had always wanted to be. Eventually, that hard work, unwavering belief that things will be okay and blinding courage to embark on adventures will roar through your success and you will look down from the top of the mountain and smile because you have finally made it. 

Anthony Ramirez

Freshman, Proud Mentee

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today" - Malcolm X

Ever since I was young, I have always felt the urge to plan for the future, whether by doing homework due the following week or looking at possible careers. Just like my parents, who immigrated to America so that their two children would have a better future, I always plan ahead. As a freshman in high school, I was one of the only people who was looking at colleges and worrying about the SAT. As a freshman in college, I now worry about preparing for the MCAT and how to make myself a well rounded medical school applicant. I still enjoy the present and live in the moment, but it is never too early to start planning for success down the road.

After hearing stories of my parents living in basements when I was a baby, I knew I had to make the most out of my time in America. They are the reason I am here at NYU, so I never take my education for granted. From a young age, they always put pressure on me to do well and stressed the importance of school. They do not want me to go through the same struggles they went through, so school is my path to success. My brother is sixteen years older than I, and he is now a general surgeon. He has always served as a reminder that regardless of my family’s past, the future is bright. He was not even born in America, so he had to work even harder. Seeing how much he has studied to get to where he is drives me to work harder and harder everyday. I am fortunate enough to have such a supportive family, and hopefully, I will be able to repay them for everything they have done. As a future physician, I hope to serve the medical field and give back to those in need.