EVERETT — Fatuma Musa, 18, is a senior at Everett High School. She helps organize the school’s Culture Night, last held Jan. 20. The daughter of Rashid Muya and Habibo Mohamed, she wants to become an activist for education all over the world, especially for girls.
Question: Tell me about yourself.
Answer: This is actually my 12th year here in the United States. My family and I moved here from Kenya. We are Somali refugees and Kenya took us in and helped us find a way to the U.S. to get a better opportunity. My people, our history is full of complete misfortune for centuries … Being here, it’s a great blessing and I see that and I try to take advantage of all the opportunities that are offered.
Q: You’re in Running Start and College in the High School through Everett Community College?
A: Life is full of surprises and you should be prepared for it as much as possible … it’s you, it’s your responsibility and it teaches you to be more independent in life and your academics.
Q: You like your studies?
A: My favorite subject is going to have to be math. I don’t consider myself a math prodigy but even when I struggle, I do value finding the answer and not giving up.
Q: And you’re taking Advanced Placement?
A: I did chemistry last year and I did AP statistics last year and this year I’m doing pre-calculus. It’s not AP, but it’s considered a college-level class. Doing that has given me a lot of credits toward college.
Q: Where do you want to go?
A: UW-Bothell or Western. I’ve been accepted already. I just need to find which one is a better fit for me.
Q: Do you have siblings?
A: In my household, there are six children. Siblings in total, I would say there’s about nine of us, including me as 10. That makes it very hard for my parents to take care of college tuition.
Q: What do you like to do for fun?
A: Honestly I volunteer a lot. I do enjoy it. If there’s something I go out and do, it’s probably shopping and hanging out with friends. I volunteer by tutoring. I tutor in math a middle-school student and I volunteer at my local community center as much as possible, the Grandview Community Center.
Q: Do you have a job?
A: I work at Famous Footwear right over there at the Everett Mall. Some may say high school students shouldn’t work, but it’s made me more responsible and more focused.
Q: Do you have a favorite book?
A: I think one of the best books I’ve ever read, when I was younger, it was definitely, “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” It helped me with my English reading and vocabulary. Now one of the best is probably “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” It made me cry so much, but it’s a great book … I remember I wrote a letter to Lemony Snicket, the author of “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” asking him to write more books.
Q: Have you picked a major for college?
A: I am planning on majoring in psychology. I value helping people. It’s very important to me. I can’t see someone in despair and pass by them … psychology will help me be in an environment that’s all about that.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory of Somalia?
A: The day my grandmother, who passed away a few years ago, she came to see us in one of our refugee camps. I had never met her before. My mother hadn’t seen her in years. She was a businesswoman … when I first saw her, it was a complete shock. I was excited more for my mom than for myself. I ran probably a mile just to get my mom from the school she was going to. I didn’t stop running until I got there.
Q: Your mother is someone you look up to?
A: One word I would use to describe my mom is self-reliant. I get that from her. No matter where she is, she will find a way within herself to do what needs to get done.
Q: Do you like Everett?
A: One thing I like about Everett is safety. I feel very, very safe here. I think that’s why my parents would never raise us anywhere else … It finally feels like home here, it really does. That’s something a lot of my people don’t say a lot. A lot of where we’ve been is temporary.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
