Zahra Hassan
Hey! I'm Zahra, a sophomore studying economics and the difference between every espresso drink (one day I'll remember the difference between a machiatto and cortado). When avoiding classwork, I like to toot my own horn in Duke's marching band, rock climb, and eat charcuterie boards with my bestie/roommate.
L's Taken
6
"Thank you for applying but..."
The Metropolitian Museum of Art
The NYCLU/ACLU
Several Real Estate intenships
The Wisconsin State Investment Board
The Whitney Museum
DukeEngage DC (before getting off the waitlist!)
Things I thought I'd finish but never did
11
Everyday L's of life
The Duke vs. UNC game
Taking an umbrella with me when I don't need one, and leaving it behind when I do
Any and all group projects
Scraping my knees after failing routes on the Wilson rock climbing wall
Getting excited about my Marriage Pact match before my friends inform you that he, in fact, sucks
Forgetting to turn in homework (twice) before getting loudly called out on it by my Art Markets professor
Failed Wordles
Being billed for a Panera coffee subscription I haven't used for months
Midterm grade: 32%
Juggling two zoom meetings at once...unsuccessfully
Getting ghosted :(
On the Bright Side
14
Memories I made when I wasn't working/studying
Eating scoops of tea flavored ice-cream with my best friend
Drunk dancing with cool alumni at a Crowell quad kegger
Fabric painting my shoes, shorts, and a shirt at a DuArts event
Watching Hasan Minaj's stand-up at DPAC
Spilling tea with my Teach for America fellowship kids
Taking a spur-of-the-moment solo day trip to Philly
Making a tie-dye shirt that I would actually wear
Having fancy breakfast with a good friend & my favorite professor (I <3 Fullenkamp)
Sunbathing with 4 friends during the classic Miami spring break vacation
Seeing a bunch of museums & Broadway shows when I studied away in NYC
Thrifting my new favorite hoodie, complete with devil horns and wings
Compiling photos of all my friends that hang around my room on fairy lights
Helping 2 amazing low-income high schoolers get full-ride scholarships at Haverford & Rice
Cheering alongside my classmates in the Cameron Indoor Watch party (before we lost)
Things I've learned that will still matter in 10 years
TV shows, movies, and books I've enjoyed
Things I'm proud of that you won't see on my resume
10
Things I want to get better at
Getting less distracted when I work
Dancing without looking like an uncooked spaghetti noodle
Rock climbing
Eating healthier/learning how to cook
Caring less about what others think
Not reverting to wearing a large hoodie & sweatpants when I don't know what to wear
Having less jealousy for other people's successes
Doing things that make me happy, and dropping things that don't
Making small sacrifices that would help future me
Exercising regularly
Things I'm looking forward to in the future
13
Small joys in my life
Collecting more free Duke shirts than any normal person ever needs
Every single Duke basketball game (even the ones we lose)
The rare good hair day
Petting Peaches and Mama Bean (as long as they're in a good mood)
Late night caffeine & chats with Elliot at Bella Union
Free lemon curd Locopops (or any Locopops)
Actually getting the classes I wanted during registration
Late night board games with my blockmates
Late night gardens walks with those same blockmates
Wine & charcuterie nights with, you guessed it, the same blockmates
Nasher brunches (mmm, the salmon benedict)
Having random convos with strangers on the C1
Honestly, nabbing any free thing Duke events provide
3
Obstacles I have overcome
Drinking way too much coffee (now just 2 cups a day!)
Not spending money on anything I wanted/needed
Never trying new hobbies because "it's too late to start now"