Oct 23

Oct 23 "Introducing Me" by Ghufran Salih

Salam, my name is Ghufran Salih. I am a senior at Syracuse University majoring in information management and technology with a focus in data analytics, I’m from from Chicago, Illinois, and I believe that I am the most accurate example of a Libra.

Why is my star sign relevant in this introduction? I once read, “When faced with a choice, it is very tough for Libras to select what is best for them, which can become a big hurdle in their path.” My decision to study abroad in Amman, Jordan was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in the last 10 years (there was also that time when I had to choose between ice cream and McDonald’s and wow was that a tough choice). As an IT major, my peers have gone to places like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, etc. — places where technology was at the forefront of their education and experience. Amman wasn’t on their radar, and had I not been brave enough to step outside of the technology bubble, I would not be sitting here writing this post two weeks before I set off on my new adventure.

I know this next adventure in Jordan will be no hurdle in my path, only an enriching experience that will improve my character and academic excellence.

Interning this summer at JPMorgan Chase & Co. I’m in my cubicle working on a big project! Photo credit: Salih, 2019

This summer I was given the amazing opportunity to intern at JPMorgan Chase & Co. as a data and analytics intern. Knowing nothing about the financial services industry, I walked into the offices of 10 S. Dearborn in Chicago with open eyes and an open heart. I spent the summer improving internal processes with the power of Excel, visualizing data that came through my team, and suggesting improvements to systems that the firm currently uses.

Now, do I think I am cut out for the finance world? Not really, I loved the team I was working on and the data that I was able to play around with but I realized that my true passion is higher education. That’s what these experiences like internships are for, to find out what you can do so that you can use it to do what you love.

Me last May while I was on vacation in the Bay Area (California) visiting my best friend. We drive 40 miles to a little beach town called Half Moon Bay and it has become one of my favorite places on the planet. Photo credit: Salih, 2019

Besides technology and higher education, my passions for life include reading, exercising, playing and watching golf, memes, singing in my acapella group, The Voice, Reddit, listening to Jacob Banks, Pitbull, and other miscellaneous artists, the Dallas Cowboys, and Half Moon Bay in California.

I am absolutely terrified of boats and here, I was on a boat and my heart rate reached 155 bpm. Photo credit: Salih, 2019

Some fast facts about me:

My yearbook quote from high school went viral and still haunts me to this day. It was, “I got a haircut and no one noticed.”
My parents immigrated to the United States in 1996 from Sudan. I was the first of the five children to be born in America and the middle of my siblings.
My favorite color is green.
I am colorblind.
I speak Arabic at home with my family but haven’t had formal Arabic education in almost 6 years.
I identify as an African American Muslim woman using the pronouns she, her, hers.
I am always wearing my aurora borealis crystal.

That’s it from me! I am so excited to start my adventure in Jordan this semester and continue to expand my knowledge of Arabic and the Middle East and North African region. I am diving head first into this experience, no expectations, no regrets, just with the biggest smile and a lot of questions.

Am I terrified? Yes. Will I miss Chipotle? Definitely yes. Am I going to run out of combinations for my scarves and outfits. No, that limit does not exist. Will I have the best semester of my life in Amman?

We’ll see...