Overcoming Disadvantages To Live Freely

For Alina Azhar, intersectionality matters. 

She’s headed toward college to study pharmaceuticals and advocate for inflammatory skin condition awareness. She’s also committed to her aspiration despite describing herself as “someone who hasn’t always been the best at math” but who will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in chemical or mechanical engineering and eventually a master’s degree anyway. Alina is on a mission and she’s taking advantage of opportunities to reach her goals.

“My biggest accomplishment so far would be my work at the Duke Young Scholars

Research Institute and the research I’ve done and presented regarding the intersection

between the humanities and STEM,” she said.

The Young Scholars program engages scholars in the study of the causes and consequences of social, economic and political inequity.

Alina says she hopes to be on her way to North Carolina Central University or NC A&T, and she attributes her persistence to accountability to family members who faced systemic barriers to seeing their hopes and dreams come true. She said her mother has supported her throughout her academic and personal challenges.

“My mother never got to live her life to the fullest, so she would always emphasize the importance of education and having the freedom to live your own life,” said Alina.

She wants those freedoms for others as well, thus her plan to advocate for those with inflammatory skin conditions. Alina is cutting her teeth on social justice and advocacy while in high school as she prepares to matriculate to higher education. She is involved in her school community and is intentionally working on projects with lasting impacts. She also loves to read mysteries and historical fiction, and enjoys anything that has to do with art, and baking.

She strives to do well at whatever she chooses to do and demonstrate success to her family. 

“I work hard to make them and those around me proud and utilize my resources to the fullest,” she said.