MAAHI ZAMAN Hometown: Upper Darby, PA College: P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science Major: Bioengineering Describe one of your proudest accomplishments. One of my proudest accomplishments at Lehigh so far is being selected as a TRAC [Technology, Research, & Communications] fellow. Growing up, I was always told by my teachers that my writing was pretty average, and it seemed like I was writing just to get my assignments complete. I began free writing a lot on my own without anyone knowing. I began to find joy in writing. The TRAC selection process began with 450+ nominees and then 123 interviewees. Out of the 123 interviewees, 30 were selected for this year’s incoming group of fellows. I was really proud to get my “Congratulations” email from the department. It felt unreal for a moment; it felt like I finally made it out of the box that I was trapped in early on in my life. Lehigh’s strategic plan, Inspiring the Future Makers, is built upon the notion that “The way forward is not yet defined. The future is ours for the making.” How do you intend to make your mark on campus and beyond? I think I’ve already begun to make my mark on campus by founding a new cultural club. I’m the founder and president of the Bengali Association of Lehigh University (BALU). Lehigh is home to Bangladeshi students who are active all around campus and now have a hub to meet with one another. Being a Bangladeshi student myself, I feel like we are all such hard workers and involved everywhere. It’s a nice feeling knowing that I’m able to provide a space for everyone to come together and finally turn familiar faces into newfound relationships. A message from Maahi: Thank you so much. Every dollar toward my scholarship makes such a difference for me. I come from a lower-end socioeconomic background. I am a person of color with one working parent in times of financial distress. I feel incredibly blessed to receive multiple scholarships to the point where I am now attending Lehigh for free. I made a vow that I would never take this for granted and tell myself that I was given this for a reason, and I’ll strive for more even when I think there isn’t anything else to do. Fun Fact: I am ambidextrous!
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