Outstanding Senior: Aziza Mohammad

Eighteen-year-old Aziza Mohammad, a senior at South Gwinnett High School, will graduate this coming Sunday with a 3.5 GPA and a long list of student activities and achievements. 

Add to that the fact that she barely spoke English when she began high school, and you can begin to see what a remarkable young woman she is. 

Originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aziza moved to Snellville when she was thirteen.  She came alone, by plane, to be with her mother, who had the opportunity to come through a lottery-visa in 1995.  

“The immigration process was long,” her mother, Samira Ahmoud, said.  

From the time she asked to come live with her mother to the time she arrived was a full two years.  One of the most frustrating parts was the way the dates read on Aziza’s birth certificate.  In Africa and other parts of the world, dates are written as day, month, then year.  In the United States, the order is first the month, then the day, followed by the year.  That small fact threw a kink in the paperwork multiple times.  

“I want her to reach her goals and dreams,” said her mother, Samira Ahmoud.  “I am so proud of her, and not only in school.  She is very confident in who she is in every way.” 

Education Challenges

Her guidance counselor, Judy Rangle, has known Aziza for the past two years. 

“She’s very modest and humble, and very respectful,” Rangle said, “so I didn’t realize how ambitious she was.  She’s very bound and determined.” 

That determination became evident to everyone when she graduated from the school’s ESOL program after only one year.  She spoke English when she began her years at South Gwinnett, but just barely.  

“She set two goals for herself her freshman year,” Rangle recalled, having read through her student profile sheet.  “One was to be out of ESOL by 10th grade; she met that goal easily.  She worked herself out in less than a year’s time.  Her other goal was take an AP class before she graduated.  She has now taken six and has done very well in them.” 

Some students remain in ESOL all throughout high school.  

To set those goals was huge,” Rangle continued, “but to accomplish them is remarkable.  She embraces education and knows that is how you become successful.” 

That sentiment is echoed by her Spanish teacher, Erica Poole, who met Aziza just this year.  

“The first thing that struck me about Aziza is that she is very quiet, but she’s super creative,” Poole said.  “Not only in the way she dresses, but the way she approaches assignments: It will also be beautiful and rich in content.” 

Although she misses the close interaction with friends and neighbors in Ethiopia, Aziza said she has been able to meet many friends who have been helpful with her learning.

"I hang out with people who think like me.  I don’t want to be influenced negatively and am careful with who my friends are,” Aziza said.  “I’ve met most through my AP classes; there is a competition between us that makes me do better.  We tutor each other.” 

Cultural Clash

Aziza would love to experience New York City one day and follow her passion for fashion as a hobby.  She is interested in designing clothes for Muslim women. Like many Muslim women, Aziza wears a hijab, every day.  

Although most people have been very accepting of her faith, she remembers one experience where that was not the case.  While working at Publix one day as a bagger, a man became very hostile towards her. 

“He would not let me bag his groceries,” she said.  “He said his sons were in Iraq, and he did not want my help.  That really hurt me, but there was nothing I could do about it.”  

Fortunately, things were different at school.  

“Surprisingly people at school have been very accepting,” she said.  “I was afraid everyone affiliated us with terrorism, but they were accepting.  They did have questions but asked them respectfully.” 

At South Gwinnett, Aziza is an active member of the Student Council, Beta Club, and Student Leadership and Ethics Development (SLED).  She is also involved in her local mosque, teaching young children, and volunteering at family events. 

Future Goals

In college, Aziza plans to minor in Spanish, and then use her three languages – English, Spanish, and Amharic – to help those in need of medical services. Aziza, whose father is a doctor in Ethiopia, carries a 3.5 GPA. It’s something she is proud of, considering her level of English her first year. 

She plans to attend Valdosta State, where she has been accepted into the school's pre-med program.  For her second year, she plans to transfer to Emory University.  She would like to eventually travel overseas and build clinics and schools for unfortunate children across the globe.  

“I’m very excited and nervous at the same time about college,” she said.  

“We’re both nervous,” her mother broke in, laughing.  “I should be happy, but I’m nervous.  I know she will back, but it’s tough.” 

“I moved from Ethiopia and had to change a lot of things about me to fit in here,” Aziza said, “so moving four hours away is really nothing.”  

I trust her more than I trust myself,” her mother added.  “She knows how to control herself.” 

Aziza, who plans to become a trauma surgeon, joins approximately 466 other South Gwinnett seniors on Sunday, May 29. She will be among 34 honor graduates.