Hey everyone! My name is Hala Mohammed, and I am very excited to call myself a Baldwin Scholar along with all these amazing women. I was born and raised in Ethiopia and my parents are from there as well. I am the eldest daughter and I have four siblings. Growing up as such has helped me shape my social interactions and what it means to be responsible and become a good example for my young siblings. I went to a small high school so coming to Duke has been an eye-opening experience for me. From the first day onwards, my experience with the people whether it is the students or professors has helped me gain new perspectives and constantly question my preconceived beliefs. It is an experience I cherish.
My academic interest lies in Computer Science and Mathematics. I hope to merge these subjects and apply them in issues of social justice such as educational equity and disabilities in children. At Duke I am involved in the center for Muslim life, SPIRE fellows’ program and I’m going to help in undergraduate research at the Duke Forest. I plan on expanding my academic horizons and taking classes and being involved in activities that are not necessarily related to my major. During my free time I love going on walks, reading books and just chatting with friends about topics ranging from who the best Avenger is (it’s Thor for the record) to more mature topics like our identities.
I am a strong believer that the community you surround yourself will impact you and I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of such an inspiring community. I hope to explore my identity, challenge my beliefs, travel and take part in different cultures.