Aafia Fayiz
graduate criminal justice student
Hometown: Pakistan
High School: Owings Mills High School
I am passionate.
I am warm.
I am hopeful.
I am a Pakistan American, and I am a Baltimorean. I moved to the United States one month after the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. I was 5 years old at the time and have experienced racism ever since. I never overcame it; however, I have learned to ignore it.
For undergrad, I majored in criminal justice, and following graduation, I decided to apply to law school. I was rejected. I was devastated and my hopes of attending law school went down the drain. Being rejected from law school actually helped me realize my passion for working with youth. I decided to apply to the graduate program in criminal justice at the University of Baltimore, and I was accepted. I aspire to become a teacher or work with kids in the criminal justice system who have committed crimes and do not get access to rehabilitation programs.
I learned to accept failure because if you accept your failure and learn from it, it will make you stronger for your next adventure.
Currently, I work as an adult assistant at the Ridge Ruxton School located in Towson, Maryland. I work with children with special needs, and I love it. I know that if they are happy and I am taking care of them, they will go further in life. While working at the Ridge Ruxton School, one of my students wasn’t able to walk because he just had hip surgery. His mom and I worked together to help him learn how to walk again. Seeing his progress through taking steps on his own and seeing the smile on his face warmed my heart. I truly enjoy helping kids and youth become better versions of themselves.
The lesson that took me the longest to learn is that when a door closes, it closes for a reason. When I got rejected from law school, I thought that it was the end of the world, the end of my career, the end of everything. I learned to accept failure because if you accept your failure and learn from it, it will make you stronger for your next adventure.