Hello, my name is Rachel E. Kim, and I am an intern writing on behalf of the Fairfax Library Foundation. Welcome to “Where are they now?,” a blog series about the Foundation’s past scholarship recipients and their current situations.
For the second blog of the series, I interviewed Mr. Mohammed Ali, another recipient of the scholarship and a rising senior at Virginia Tech:
Q: What have you been pursuing or participating in since receiving the scholarship?
Since the scholarship, I have been interning at INOVA Hospital for Systems Engineering. I have had work experience as an IT intern for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as a tech consultant for TechOpp Consulting. I co-founded iDecorWalls, a manufacturer of modern Arabic art, and at Virginia Tech, I anchor my own TV show, “Tech Corner with Mohammed Ali.”
Q: What is your career aspiration/situation? What inspired you to choose this area of study?
I'm into the medical field but I also love engineering. My internship at INOVA Hospital brings the two worlds together.
Q: Why did you choose the Fairfax Library Foundation as your scholarship source?
I pay for college myself. I've been going to the Sherwood Regional Library since I was a kid. I saw a post about the scholarship and decided to apply.
Q: What made you a good candidate for the scholarship? Did the scholarship match your interests or career aspirations?
I believe my involvement in college and volunteering made me a good candidate for the scholarship. I'm very open to giving back and believe everything you do should have a purpose of helping improve society as a whole. The scholarship will help me finish my final year in college.
Q: Why was receiving scholarship assistance important to you?
Paying for college by myself isn't easy. But it's a promise I made to my parents. They have done so much for me already so I told them they wouldn't have to worry about paying for college. This scholarship allowed me to keep my promise throughout my final year.
Q: How has the scholarship shaped your career path? What role has it played in your life?
The scholarship has assisted me in getting an education. It has also inspired me to one day start a scholarship organization. Scholarships like this one allows someone like me to further their education.
Q: How have you contributed to the Fairfax Library Foundation or to your community?
I have started a volunteering organization. This organization helps connect students to volunteering needs. I have also reached out to the IT Support at the library to see how I can volunteer there.
Q: What role has the library played in your life? In turn, what role have you played in enhancing the library?
The library has always been my source of knowledge. I am so thankful for libraries because it's honestly free knowledge and reading. More people need to take advantage of it. I've worked to always use the resources and even volunteer when I could.