Name: Aisha
Pronoun(s): she/her/hers
Hometown/city: Boston, MA
Nationality: USA
Current location: Portland ME
Occupation: Law student
Meet Aisha
Summiting Breithorn with my students in Switzerland
I grew up in the city and have always loved New England – the ocean, the mountains, the connection to nature and the wide variety of people, cultures, and foods. Growing up in a home where both my parents did international work, we always had visitors from all over the world passing through. It was normal until I realized it actually wasn’t, and just how lucky we were to grow up in a house where my Muslim “uncle” from Pakistan might sit down to have Shabbat dinner with my Catholic “Papa” from France and nobody would even think twice.
I lived in France for a semester in high school and realized the power that foreign language skills could give.
The confidence gained as a 16-year old opened my eyes to the doors available to someone with a sense of adventure and a willingness to explore
I spent a year in Zambia before my undergraduate studies at Kenyon College. At Kenyon, I majored in International Studies with a concentration on Development in sub-Saharan Africa and continued my language studies in French and Spanish.
After graduating I worked as a soccer coach and French teacher at both the collegiate and high school levels in New York, Maine, Switzerland, and New Hampshire. Although I loved teaching, I recently decided to apply my language skills and passion for international issues in a different arena and have started my studies at Maine Law where I plan to pursue immigration law.
On Education
My host mom and me outside our home in Choma, Zambia (when I went back to visit after 7 years and introduced her to my mom!)
How did you choose your program? Did your decision change over the course of your time at school?
I never felt like I chose my program; rather, I took advantage of the liberal arts program and discovered that all the courses I was interested in would lead me to my eventual degree.
I think there’s a lot of value in following your gut, trusting your passions and interest, and being willing to think outside the box
What is the most striking difference to you about education in the US vs. education in other countries?
In my experience, the US has a very self-centered approach to education, which is reinforced by its relative geographic isolation. The opportunity to live and study in Africa and Europe (I spent two summers abroad: one in Dakar, Senegal and one in Geneva, Switzerland) was a humbling reminder of how little I knew about the world outside of my own, and how much there is to learn! Additionally, many other educational systems value language instruction, recognizing the advantage of language skills in a globalized world.
Professional Background
Did you ever feel unsure of your career path?
Always!
I think it’s really easy to look at someone’s resumé and see how the dots all connect. However, I think very few people actually know where they’re headed until they get there
One thing I’ve learned is that no matter what the option set is, the right choice is the one you make. You are the one who connects the dots and carries the thread of passions and interests into each new career/life step.
Do your future career goals involve living abroad or traveling for work?
Yes, I hope so! I think immigration is an issue that is only going to grow in importance due to environmental changes from global warming and shifting political climates. From a policy standpoint, I think big changes will have to happen at the international level, which is something I have a keen interest in.
On Lifestyle
My sister-in-law and I in Oahu, on a family trip visiting my brother
Why do you enjoy traveling?
I love traveling because it’s a refreshing reminder that the world is LARGE and does not revolve around me or my little sphere within it. There are so many foods to eat and beautiful places to explore and people with amazing life stories to learn from! Getting out and IN the world is crucial.
Do you think young people in your home country would benefit from traveling more? Living abroad more? Why?
As a French teacher, this is a conversation I’ve frequently had with my students. I encourage everyone, 100%, to travel as much as possible. There are innumerable benefits, but especially as a young adult, there isn’t much better than getting outside your comfort zone and learning things about yourself that you might never have discovered otherwise.
Small interactions can have lifelong effects and set you off in a direction that you never could have anticipated
One last question
What advice would you give to a young person who knows they want to travel but aren’t sure where that fits in with the rest of their lives?
Go travel, and just let yourself be surprised by how it fits in with the rest of your life. Traveling will open so many doors, allow you to see so many ways of doing life, and maybe spark something inside you you didn’t have the words for before.
Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited for concision and clarity.
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If you connected with Aisha’s story, she invites you to connect with her on Instagram @jiaishasimon
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