Meet Rasmia Haider
Rasmia Haider graduated from Mar Elias Educational Institutions in 2016 and from there, went on to study medicine at the Arab American University, which includes two years studying in Jenin, two years in Aruba, and 1 1/2 years in US hospitals. Rasmia is now in Chicago, working in area hospitals, practicing what she learned in the previous four years of study.
When I asked Rasmia about her education at Mar Elias, she attributed her being where she is today to the exceptional education she received at MEEI, “…one of the best schools in Israel…”
Opportunity to visit the U.S.
Some stand-out moments were the opportunity to visit the U.S.— traveling with former Pilgrims of Ibillin Executive Director Joan Deming and Dr. Emil Halloun from Mar Elias Educational Institutions High School, meeting Americans in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois — as well as when Americans volunteered at MEEI, helping out in the classrooms. Meeting people from another culture offered an invaluable opportunity to better understand the world.
Along these lines, participating in a book club program between MEEI students and those in the US helped Rasmia connect with the American culture. Students read the same books and then met online to discuss them, practicing their English while learning about each other’s lives.
Excelling in Israeli (Bagrut) exams
MEEI also rises above other schools in their support of students to excel in the Israeli exams, the Bagrut; high marks are essential to a student’s acceptance into the best university programs. (As a point of interest, we recently learned that 93% of 2022’s graduating seniors completed the Bagrut ‘with honors’ – the highest marks!!)
Finding familiar tastes in the U.S.
Rasmia is enjoying the opportunity to learn and grow, both in Aruba and now in Chicago — although it certainly comes with its challenges. Particularly, the people and culture of Chicago are so very different than what she is used to back home. Chicago is a dangerous city, a different kind of danger than is experienced as a Palestinian in Israel. Fortunately though, there is a neighborhood of Chicago, Bridgeview, or Little Palestine, that offers a taste of the familiar with shop names in Arabic and bursting with Palestinian people and food.
The program itself is also very challenging — an 8 year course of study fit into six, means an enormous academic load and lots of pressure. Rasmia is managing the load as best she can!
Rasmia has such fond memories of MEEI, she would love to go back if she could. Every morning she woke up excited to go to school to be with friends and teachers in a very nurturing environment.
Pursuing a medical degree
I thank you, Rasmia, for taking the time to share your experiences with us at Pilgrims of Ibillin and we wish you much success as you pursue your dream of a medical degree!