The internships she completed at UBC ’ s engineering faculty not only provided her with valuable insights , but also helped shape her aspirations for the future . “ Doing those internships and having those connections with people at the engineering faculty helped me narrow down my path and decide what I ’ m going to do next year ,” she said .
Beyond her academic endeavours , Marwa also immersed herself in activities that enriched her experience in a new culture . Her volunteer work at the cat and rabbit rescue centres in Vancouver showcases her compassionate nature and her dedication to community service .
Looking ahead , Marwa is embarking on the next chapter of her educational journey , studying engineering with honours math at University of British Columbia ( UBC ). “ The scholarship I got to UBC is called the Donald Wong Award . Just being at UBC doing engineering as an international student is a big thing for me . It ’ s something I never even dreamed of , because it was just too big . But it ’ s happening now !”
“ The person that I was two years ago is just so much different from the
person I am now . Sometimes I come across an issue and I catch myself having feelings about it that are very different from the feelings I would have had a couple of years ago . I ’ ve really grown ,” she said .
“ I ’ m proud to be a part of this community because of how socially aware it is . Even the current state of the world , which is awful , I know people in my grade , my friends who are actually doing things to make it better — I ’ m proud of that and I ’ m proud to see people my age actively working to make changes .”
FINDING ON-CAMPUS INSPIRATION
Tahira arrived at Crofton House and discovered a world of opportunities and technological advancements , which was a stark contrast to her previous experiences . Despite cultural and academic differences , she remained steadfast in her belief in education as a path to empowerment for herself , her family and her community .
“ I came here because I didn ’ t want to repeat my grandmother ’ s history or my mother ’ s history of being uneducated ,” she explained . “ When I think back , it was hard . There were so many challenges , but I ’ m glad I came here . And now I can make a better future and , when I go back home , I can help my people .”
Tahira excelled in both her studies and her co-curricular activities at CHS . An avid learner , she embraced subjects like entrepreneurship , pre-calculus , world literature , chemistry , anatomy and physiology . She also found a supportive and welcoming community . She actively participated in various clubs and activities , including the GSA Club , peer tutoring and the Medical Pathology Club .
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