Outstanding Students

Muhammad Alassaf

Q: Where are you from? (city, state) 

A: I am from Hama City, Syria. I was born and grew up in Damascus City, Syria.  

Q: Why did you choose Kirkwood? 

A: The real intention for Kirkwood Community College is to educate the people and support them to be positive active members of their society, nation, and around the world.    

Q: What is your major and how did you choose it? 

A: Financial Service is my program at Kirkwood Community College. 
I choose this program, because of my former job experience in one of the institutions financial for around two years. Furthermore, my background in Law as a paralegal then as an attorney for more than 9 years. I found, if I go deep into this knowledge – Financial – I will be more helper and useful for people in their financial problems solving.  

Q: What has been your proudest moment at Kirkwood?  

A: The moment I received the Medal of Honor as an outstanding student at Kirkwood Community College, which is one of the greatest moments I am proud it of my life. 
The reason for this is, I am trying to rewrite my life and previously lost accomplishments in my home country because of the civil war for the right of freedom and Justice. 
This is what the Kirkwood Community college and its faculty provided to me. Where I felt renewed hope for my family’s life and mine.   

Q: What are your plans after Kirkwood? 

A: My plan begins with finding a full-time job in financial institutions, banks, or in one of non-profits Organizations to support my family. Concurrently, completing a university degree in financial studies and services. Afterward, I will work to accredit and evaluate my bachelor’s degree in law that I obtained in my home country Syria. To return and practice law again as a lawyer in the United States. This is to help and support people to solve their financial problems and bring back their rights.  

Q: What inspires or motivates you? 

A: The pain and losses that afflicted me during the path of my life, made me feel the importance of preserving and defending the people’s rights, property, and savings. Whereas, losing people’s money is equivalent to losing their lives. The financial institutions, banks, and insurance companies were founded to preserve and grow the money of the people and the investors. Thus, the development of the US economy and the prosperity of the people’s wealth. Working with them is a national responsibility and success. 

 
Q: Tell us about who you are outside of Kirkwood – hobbies, family, other interests, etc. 

A: Family is my priority.  Spending time with them is my happiest moment.  As a family, we spend our time traveling and exploring new places.  We had happy moments in Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, and now in several states in the United States.  We also spend fun times attending theaters and shopping.  On a personal level, I enjoy reading books in various fields as political, economic, and historical. Moreover, I like to follow up on the news and analyze.  

Q: What does be named an Outstanding Student mean to you? 

A: As an Outstanding Student and success mean, more responsibility and obligations towards Kirkwood Community college as one of its members, and in front of society and the nation. Success is not purely a coincidence, or as some believe it is attributed to luck. In short, success is confidence, struggle, will, wisdom, and constant intellectual planning that does not stop and does not retreat. Therefore, it is difficult to reach the top and more difficult to stay there. 

Categories: Outstanding Students