Fawziyya M.
I created this website to share my stories in the hopes that you may discover something about me beyond my resume or first impressions.
I hope you learn something new.
Origins
I was the first person in my family born in the United States. For this reason, my parents named me Fawziyya, an Arabic word meaning successful - a name which encompasses their hopes, struggles and determination towards the American Dream.
My parents came to the U.S. seeking educational opportunities for themselves and their children. From an early age, they instilled a love of learning within me that I have carried throughout my life. I have always gone above and beyond, searching for additional opportunities to further my education, simply because that is what I value most.
Independence
At the age of 11, I participated in Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth Program, and it changed the course of my life. It was the first time I found myself away from home for an extended period and in the company of diverse peers and hands-on instructors - the experience profoundly affected my attitude towards education and my role in the world.
The program developed within me a deep desire to explore a different type of education, one supplemented by experience. It wasn’t long until I grew discontent by the confinements of my hometown and began seeking independence.
Growth
After graduating from middle school, I earned a scholarship from NJ SEEDS to attend an out-of-state, all-girls boarding school where I developed an appetite in the natural sciences and complemented my classroom lessons by shadowing a Pathologist for two summers. It was an enriching and immersive experience that helped me mature personally and academically.
Exploration
My achievements and experiences in high school paved the way for me to attend The George Washington University, where I was accepted into the Women’s Leadership Program for Science, Health and Medicine.
I fully intended to continue my studies in the natural sciences and ultimately work as a researcher. However, during my sophomore year, I completed a Microeconomics course that captured my imagination and initiated a change in my course of study.
My decision to change majors was triggered by an assignment that required me to write a paper analyzing a current economic policy. For the first time in my college experience, I felt that I was applying my knowledge in a practical and meaningful way. Within a few months, I declared an Economics major and later picked up a minor in Statistics.
Discovery
As I transitioned majors, I stepped further out of my comfort zone and decided to study abroad in China, where I had the chance to intern with Carbon Capital Management, a carbon-credit trading company in Beijing.
Through my internship experience, I realized that I could intertwine my interest in the natural sciences with my newfound ethusiasim for economics to pursue an exciting career path in energy.
Direction
My career objective is to improve access to sustainable energy.
I am currently a graduate student at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) where I am studying and researching how policy and various financial instruments can incentivize the widespread use of renewable energy technologies domestically and internationally.
Hope
I simply strive to fulfill the meaning of my name - successful.
It is a substantial name to live up to, but I look forward to the challenge.
Feel free to join me on any of the social media platforms below.
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