Share the Dream: My Life, My Focus, My Goal Share the Dream: My Life, My Focus, My Goal: Ahmed, Lina

Talent Merit Scholarship Recipient

Paragraph 1: Background

My name is Lina Ahmed. I am 18 years old, born in Fairfax, Virginia, and moved to Brooklyn, New York when I was around six years old. I am 100% Middle Eastern, 100% Iraqi to be exact. My cultural background is something that I never got too much in touch with, but I really hope to do so in the future. I don’t remember much about my childhood in Virginia, Brooklyn is where I really grew up and became the person I am today. I graduated high school in 2025, and when I really look back, it feels like I experience a lot more long before other people my age really experienced.

My mom has always been a big part of my life. She was born in Kuwait before it broke off into its own country, and she came to America at around three years old. She raised me and my siblings on her own, and everything I know about strength, independence, and taking care of others come from her. She had a tough life, yet she somehow always managed to make my childhood so joyful, even during the hardships. My dad was born in Iraq and raised in Syria. Our relationship was always complicated. There were moments we were close and the next he was distancing himself from his kids and constantly disappointing us. I used to admire him, everything he did, this changed as I got older. Even though I still care about him, we haven’t spoken since I graduated.

I am the oldest of four children. Layth (16), Lamees (15), and my five year old sister, Lily. Being the oldest daughter meant growing up faster than most. I learned how to cook, clean, and take care of the house because my mom was constantly working. Cleaning became a hobby I actually picked up, it clears my mind and gives me a sense of control. Middle school was a tough time for me, and switching schools made me feel out different environments and even different version of myself. Then COVID hit during my 7^th-grade year. That time was lonely for me, but it also helped me understand myself better. I found comfort in the little things like watching “The Office,” a show I still watch to this day.

Part 2: Why UMassD/College Now

I chose Umass Dartmouth because I wanted a place where I could grow freely, academically and personally, without all the distractions and chaos going on at home. I needed a fresh start, a new beginning for myself, somewhere where I can focus on who I want to become. The College Now program made the transition into college so much easier. It gave me structure, people I can talk to, and a community where they genuinely want their students to succeed. My advisor and peer mentor really helped me understand the expectations of college and gave me the motivation I need to be able to handle everything.

College is definitely a lot different from high school. I thought it would be extremely overwhelming and like crazy, but College Now showed me how to manage my time, stay organized, and stay on track. What keeps me in school is my future, and how I want to make the best one for myself and my family. I want to make my moms struggles worth it and become that siblings that younger siblings can look up too. I want to double major in Psychology and either Crime and Justice Studies or Sociology, and I am also considering a pre-med track. My goal here is to take advantage of everything this school has to offer, the classes, internships, and connections so that I can really prepare myself for my career.

Part 3: Future Goals/Contribution

My future career goals are deeply personal, not made by only my own experience but because of my grandfather. He was a cardiologist who got his PhD at Georgetown, finished medical school and residency in Bulgaria, and attended High school in Iraq. His life really showed me what true dedication and passion for helping others look like. But what inspired me the most is the work he did later, which was working for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Knowing he used his medical knowledge to help people who were incarcerated, the people society don’t really look at, changed the way I look at what I really want to do. His career really helped me find my passion for helping inmates and those who want a second chance at life.

I want to become either a Psychiatrist or a prison social worker who focuses on the mental health of inmates that people often overlook. So many inmates have trauma, generational  pain, addiction problems, etc. This really shaped their life before going into the system. I want to be the person that listens to them, someone who believes in that second chance for them, and someone who believes in healing, just like my grandfather did for them. Like how the College Now program gave me a second chance at being able to go to a University.

I want to be able to make a impact on others by trying to change how the criminal justice system looks at rehabilitation. I believe that if people are given the right tools, knowledge, and suppport, they can overcome their challenges. I want to focus on the people who really want to grow and be better for themselves. My goals aren’t just academic, they’re coming from a place of empathy and experience. Being the oldest in the house with a single mother, I learned responsibility, resilience, and patience. I want to bring those skills into my career to help others.