Q: What is a place that means a lot to you?

A: My home country Palestine means a lot to me, because I was born there and raised there. I moved away five years ago, but still go visit there every summer, because it’s my home.

Q: What short-term goals do you have for your life?

A: A short-term goal is probably visiting Palestine every summer, just because it means a lot to me. I feel like there’s a piece of me there. Another short-term goal I have is choosing the right college, because I haven’t decided which college I’m going to yet. And probably choosing the right major.

Q: Tell me about your home in Palestine.

A: Basically, I lived in a neighborhood with all my friends. They lived close to me, like literally a minute away. I have a lot of cousins over there–40 cousins, I think–and we all lived in the same neighborhood, went to school together, and hung out every night. Over there, we do everything with each other, and it’s just beautiful.

Q: Do you miss it?

A: A lot. It’s my home. I miss it a lot.

Q: What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

A: Oh my gosh. This is gonna sound so bad. One time one of my friends challenged me to eat cereal with Coke, and it tasted so bad. 

Q: What is your greatest fear?

A: That anything bad could happen to my mom. I would literally just die if anything happened to her.

Q: Tell me about something you’re good at.

A: I’m good at soccer–decent at it, probably. Especially goalkeeping. I’m also good at speaking two languages. I just got my seal of biliteracy.

Q: What is the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?

A: One time, I got lost in an airport. It was when I first came here, and I did not speak English. It was so awkward, and I don’t know how my family found me. I was lost for like, seven hours. I was terrified.

Q: What is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

A: So in middle school, I did not really speak English, and overseas, we call soccer “football.” When I came here, they said there was a football tryout, and I thought “Yeah, football, I can play that!” I went to the “football” tryouts and… yeah, it’s not football, it’s people hitting each other. So I went to one of the coaches to ask what was going on. My English was pretty broken, and so I asked, “Where’s the futbol tryouts?” and he literally just pointed out two people tackling each other. I said “No no, futbol,” and I acted like I was kicking a ball. He just started laughing at me and told me that they didn’t have any soccer then. It was very embarrassing.

Q: What is the best thing that’s ever happened to you?

A: Probably moving to the USA, because it was a big opportunity. Over there [in Palestine], school is way harder, and I think I would’ve failed, but here, I’m smart.

Q: What is something you wish you knew going into your senior year?

A: That there are so many opportunities for scholarships I can apply for and clubs I can do to give me more opportunities.