Alirat Abdullai

What made you decide to enroll at the University of Maryland?
The University of Maryland was my dream in-state school, it was close enough that I could stay close to my family but far enough that I could be independent, and get to know myself honestly without the influence of my family. UMD is also known to have excellent academics and is a world-renowned school that will provide me with many opportunities in the future.

What major/career path do you plan on pursuing and how did you select that path?
I will be majoring in psychology, and minoring in something else that will be able to aid in my future career as a clinical psychologist. I chose psychology because through my own struggles with mental health I realized how important it was, and I knew I wanted to help people heal the wounds that can't be seen with the eyes.

Activities I do outside of class or community service/volunteer activities I'm involved with:
I enjoy learning about different cultures through their various entertainments, food, and language. I also enjoy ceramics; creating little things for my family and friends makes me happy. I like being in nature and exploring. I would like to travel the world in the future and experience the cultures I have learned about through my computer screen.

Aside from academics, what else do you hope to take away from your time at Maryland?
Aside from knowledge about my major, I also hope to have learned more about myself and the world around me, I hope to have made friends that I can call my second family. By the end of my four years at UMD, I hope I know what exactly I want to do and how to get there. I also hope to have learned my third language.

What are your future goals after graduation?
After graduation, I will go for my master's because I know that the career I want requires me to have a Ph.D. I also want to get a job that will better prepare me for my career in psychology and that will pay me well enough to take care of my family, travel, and save up for my future. I also want to start my first non-profit organization that tackles the problem of hunger and lack of good education in west Africa.