What really makes her angry? When lively neighborhoods, like Jackson Heights in Queens, where her brother lives, are silenced by fear of ICE agents. Since Iman applied for the Voyager a year ago, things have gotten a lot worse. At the time, Iman was on a semester abroad at the University of Edinburgh, taking classes like "The Meaning of Life" and "Adam and Eve and LGBTQ." She was surprised by the number of anti-immigration protests going on in the U.K.
Iman grew up in a close-knit family of Pakistani immigrants: uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends who shaped Iman's ideas about the importance of community. She did not grow up in a wealthy family, and she is keenly aware of the privilege that surrounds her at Dartmouth. "What am I doing if I'm not using this opportunity for good," she asks. Her father had hopes that she might pursue a career in medicine or law, but always with a pro bono twist. She's headed to law school.
In a recent internship, Iman worked with Muslims in prison who were denied the right to pray. This and other experiences have shown her how effective law can be. But Iman has already seen how difficult it can be for immigrants to understand and utilize laws designed to preserve their civil rights. "People talk about how easy it is to pursue a legal path," she says, "but it's not. And it can be very hard to convince people of that."
Iman sees herself working for a human and/or civil rights organization like the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) or the IRC (International Rescue Committee). She's a natural for the Voyager, established by former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Brian Chesky, the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, to provide opportunities for young people to enter public service through a two-year program focusing on education, mentoring, and career development. Ahmad is the third Dartmouth student to receive the scholarship.
So what does this fast-talker do to relax? Long walks, movies, and henna art. Where does she get her news? She laughs. "Social media. Talking with my brother. Word of mouth." These days, these may in fact be the most reliable sources.
