Iman Hamid
Iman Hamid is one of Grafton High School’s co-salutatorians. She shares the honor with Pooja Ranganathan, who also finished senior year with a 4.77 grade point average and whom you can read about by clicking here.
Hamid, 17, is the daughter of Heba Elkobaitry and Khaled Abdol-Hamid. She plans to continue her studies at the University of California Los Angeles to study molecular, cell and developmental biology, then hopes to attend medical school as well as work towards a PhD.
Her extracurricular activities include playing the piano, Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Green Team and Key Club. In the community she has volunteered at the Virginia Living Museum as well as using her academic gifts as a math, chemistry, Spanish and biology tutor.
The most important thing I learned in high school: Relax and take it easy. Remaining calm in dire situations leads to the answer, and there is always a solution to every problem.
Teacher I would most like to thank: Mrs. Clarke, my Advanced Chemical Analysis teacher at the Governor’s School for Science and Technology. In addition to her ability to teach difficult subjects with ease, I also loved that she could be so subtly sarcastic in her lectures that only those who knew her could see through her poker-face and know that she was making a witty joke.
Dream job: I would love to work in any of the following careers: cardiovascular or genetic researcher at the NIH, racecar driver, movie soundtrack composer or screenwriter.
The person I most admire: My cousin Nadia Rayan, for her steadfast resolve in starting her own clothing business. I’m so proud of you, Nadia.
Favorite catchphrase: Hakuna Matata
My most cherished high school memory: Though seemingly insignificant, it would have to be the first conversation I ever had with one of my closest friends, Elaine Santiago. It went something like this:
“Hey, have you started the chem lab yet?
“Nope, you?
“No.
“That’s fantastic.”
And thus, a beautiful friendship bloomed from a foundation of procrastination and the mutual sufferings of taking on the workload of Governor’s School in addition to four other AP and advanced courses.