Ahlam Mohammed is a first-generation student who participated in the FACES for the Future St. Rose Hospital program. Ahlam graduated from the FACES program and San Lorenzo high school in 2016. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Human Development at Cal State University East Bay (CSUEB) and recently entered the Master’s in Social Work program at CSUEB.
Through participation in the FACES program at St. Rose hospital, Ahlam was exposed to several FACES internship rotations where she learned about the healthcare system, patient care, and behavioral health. The internship program allowed Ahlam to connect with mentors who shared their pathways into the health professions. Ahlam was inspired to continue a path to grow as an individual and pursue higher education in a field where she can create meaningful change. Ahlam shared, “FACES helped me identify my passion and opened doors for me to overcome cultural challenges “.
As a Muslim Yemeni woman, Ahlam expressed that she is motivated and dedicated to break barriers and open doors for women within her community. While also pursuing a career in social work to support and provide resources to troubled youth. Ahlam mentions how being a youth in modern-day America is challenging due to societal stigmas and how they have altered our idea of mental, physical, and emotional health and became driven to pursue a behavioral health career.
Ahlam has been an inspiration within her family and her community. She hopes to positively impact and model for her younger siblings and community that they can also pursue their dreams and goals. Even if that does require having to find a balance between cultural expectations and her own aspirations. She recognizes that many young people face different challenges whether it’s cultural, financial, environmental, etc. in life that can greatly impact their future. Ahlam shares, “With every hardship comes ease, we are tested and run into obstacles to discover our strengths”.