The AUS Student Council president joins us as a guest on this premier episode of FYE Chats. In just 10 minutes, Marwan shares his experience as a first year and gives insight about building connections with his professors and the AUS community. Be sure to listen to the whole episode for a classified hint on how to avoid an embarrassing moment your first year!
Erica Lee Payne 0:02
Welcome to FYE chats, an AUS podcast. I'm your host, Erica Payne. College is a big transition that can be a little overwhelming. We invite you to listen in on candid conversations with the US community because we want to see you thrive as you begin your first year experience. On this week's show, we're going to chat with Marwan about what it means to live the life of an AUS-er. Marwan was voted the Aus student council president and works to represent the student body in very important meetings. Marwan, It is such an honor to have you on the show.
Marwan Alahmed 0:39
Salamalekum, Miss Erica. Thank you for having me on the podcast. It's my pleasure to join today.
Erica Lee Payne 0:44
Walaikum Assalam, I would love for you to start by sharing a little bit about yourself.
Marwan Alahmed 0:50
As you know, my name is my Marwan. I'm studying mechanical engineering, and I'm currently in my senior year, sadly. So in the past year, I most of my time on campus was spent planning and preparing for events, because I was part of the Emirati Culture Club. So we hosted multiple events such as National Day, and many others, and also took part of the AUS Carnival that was hosted by student council. And that was a pretty interesting event. So I do plenty of things on campus.
Erica Lee Payne 1:19
Wow, it sounds like you're pretty busy. Were you involved during your first year?
Marwan Alahmed 1:24
During my first year? Well, during my first semester, I didn't really involve myself in university activities. I was too focused on my classes, and I would, I would go to class, and then head straight back home study. But as I as the years progressed, I started to spend a bit more time slowly, and that's taking the events, meet new people and making friends.
Erica Lee Payne 1:48
It's helpful to know that it took you some time to get involved. A lot of students come to us because it has a good academic reputation, but there's sometimes worried about doing well on their courses. Can you tell us about a time when you had to overcome an academic challenge. How did you manage it?
Marwan Alahmed 2:05
So as students, we all worry about doing well in our courses, and we all want to achieve the highest grades we can. But throughout my years, I don't think I've necessarily had academic challenges, but I did have plenty of obstacles that affected my academics in a way. So let's take my current situation, I've dislocated my shoulder seven times. And at one point during my last semester, I had to travel and now I underwent surgery. So my whole right arm is completely immobilized. And given the time right handed, this has a very negative impact. At the end of the day, this is an obstacle that's been put in my life and to plenty obstacles that will come. We have to find a way to adapt, we have to find a way to overcome these obstacles and deal with them. Such as myself, I had to reteach myself how to do everything with my left hand
Erica Lee Payne 2:57
Wow. You make a good point that sometimes challenges aren't academic like a dislocated shoulder, but they still impact our academics. How did you dislocate your shoulder seven times?
Marwan Alahmed 3:10
So, three times in three times in the gym two times in volleyball and two times in my sleep ironically.
Erica Lee Payne 3:18
Oh, man. Well, so speaking of volleyball, one of the amazing things about a us is that there are opportunities to grow even outside the classroom, culture clubs, community service, or sports teams like volleyball, it's hard to know where to start. What advice would you give to a first year who's excited to get involved in student life?
Marwan Alahmed 3:39
So the advice I'd give a first year is manage your time. Being able to manage your time is one of the most important things in succeeding not only in university, but throughout your whole life. You have to learn how to properly manage your time and that's not something that comes from the first time it clicks. It takes us and explain And it's a continuous Second, you start with something and then you continue and you learn from your mistakes and you keep on improving until you, well, there is no end, you just keep on improving, because life is going to throw different situations at you in different circumstances. Also, another thing that would help that I've recently started doing is having a planner. A planner gives me a much clearer image on what I have scheduled for the week and for my meetings, exams, deadlines, projects, all of the ...all of my life basically certainly in the planner.
Erica Lee Payne 4:38
Wow. Yes, having a planner is great advice and it's something that you'll take throughout your time in university and then definitely as an adult and in your career. So how do you balance your social life with doing well academically?
Marwan Alahmed 4:53
So what I did in my first semester was I focused purely on academics. It was the transitioning phase for me I did not really want to risk it. So the first semester was dedicated to studies. However, as time progressed, as I entered the next semester in the next year, I slowly started to stay, spend a bit more time on campus, participate in events, my friends would invite me to events, they would force me to some events as well. But that really helped me in developing a social life, which is, I think, is one of the most important things as well as studies.
Erica Lee Payne 5:31
Yeah, absolutely. And it's okay to take some time to find that balance. I love how you ease into the highly social life that you have now. So next question AUS has faculty from almost 50 different nationalities, among them, many are published authors, renowned researchers. It's really cool, but it can also be intimidating.
What does your relationship with your professors, administrators or staff look like?
Marwan Alahmed 5:56
I'm usually the guy that breaks the ice with the Professor. I don't really think it's fair for the professor to always have a tense class? intimidating class. So it's by making a joke every once in a while, or simply asking the professor "So professor, how are you, how have you been doing? How was your day?" The professors really appreciate the small gestures and the they really put you in good standing with the professor. Now some professors throughout the US have become really close friends of mine, I have a professor that I go to, to ask for advice with anything not necessarily with regards to academics or my studies. So I really think it's important to develop a good relationship with the professor. However, always keep in mind that at the end of the day, this is your professor and there has to be a certain level of respect that you must uphold. And you must honor
Erica Lee Payne 6:50
I love how you don't just go to your professor because of a bad grade or because you don't understand something but you build that relationship from the start. Next we see that "Proud_AUSer" hashtag around campus" graduation post, AUS Instagram. So I'm wondering in your own words what would you say it means to be a proud AUS-er?
Marwan Alahmed 7:11
So, to me being a proud AUS-er means a number of things. Firstly, it's the community. The people that I have met connection I've developed and the friend I make, whether they are students or faculty. Being able to study alongside some of the brightest students and being taught by some of the brightest professors really makes me proud to be a part of this university. Another is the opportunities I get, whether they're from internships, job opportunities, or even volunteering opportunities as completely utilize networks of connections and assist students by creating opportunities that other universities may not get. And I've seen that some companies only accept as graduates which really makes me proud to be a part of us.
Erica Lee Payne 7:58
Wow, hearing you say that makes me proud to be a part of AUS as well. For the last part, we're going to ask a few questions that will ask every episode to get to know our guests. But you get to be the first to answer them. So first, what is your favorite part of campus?
Marwan Alahmed 8:16
Library in the Student Center. I love spending time meeting new people and these two are the most crowded.
Erica Lee Payne 8:24
Course. student council president loves the crowd. Next, do you have an embarrassing moment from your time at AUS?
Marwan Alahmed 8:31
So... I don't necessarily wanna say the embarrassing moment but I will help you avoid yours and give hints of what my embarrassing moment is. In the library, there are two doors at the back door is used for emergencies only and I repeat is used for emergencies only. Do your best to avoid that door as if it opens the whole library is gonna sound an alarm is going to sound the whole library and take it for me. It's a pretty embarassing place to be.
Erica Lee Payne 9:02
definitely something to take note of. Lastly, what is one piece of advice you'd like to share with the first years listening?
Marwan Alahmed 9:12
So I had a few you have four years, or five years depending on your major. And speaking from personal experience, these years will fly and you will not feel a second with them. So do your best to enjoy your user to us because trust me, they're gonna be the most entertaining, most fruitful years you will have during your life. But that doesn't mean you should forget your studies....they are equally important.
Erica Lee Payne 9:38
of course, such incredible advice from our very own student council president, thank you so much for joining us for our first episode today Marwan
Marwan Alahmed 9:47
Thank you for having me. It was an honor to be here.
Erica Lee Payne 9:50
It was great to hear from our one today. If you found this dialogue helpful. We would love to hear your feedback. Thank you so much for listening to the show. See you next time on FYE Chats.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai