Amazing student: Sahl Hakim

The double major in biology and psychology from Lawrenceville cites the Dawg Camp, Freshman Forum and the UGA Visitors Center as the having the biggest impacts on his UGA experience:

Dawg Camp helped me open up to all the things UGA had to offer. I came in to college as an awkward, shy first year but I’ve grown so much from then. Special shoutout to my counselor Nikita for forcing me to hang out with her and showing me how fun college could be! 

Freshman Forum gave me my first family on campus. I looked forward to Monday nights because I was surrounded with so many amazing friends and mentors. Forum gave me so much freshman year and now I have the opportunity to give back. I currently mentor a group of the greatest first-years on this campus. I see myself in all of them and it brings me so much joy to see them give back to the community. There’s a huge sense of pride in knowing how much they’re going to accomplish and I’m just honored I get to be a part of their journeys. 

The UGA Visitors Center is the happiest place on campus for a reason. That place is filled with the most inspiring and passionate people. I’m in awe of all the things my peers are accomplishing. Eric Johnson and Natalie Mann, the directors of the VC, have this ability to find the most amazing individuals on this campus. They took a chance on me freshman year. I was terrified of public speaking and meeting new people, but they along with the best mentors inspired me and helped me grow. The VC has taught me four things to live by: be safe, be kind, be authentic, and most importantly be remarkable.

Just so. No matter what path you choose, the possibility of learning where your passions run is the most important thing that happens on our campus. Between and inside our classrooms, students find out who they are and what they want to pursue. Good luck to Mr. Hakim - we're already proud of you.