Summer Snapshot: High School Enrichment Activities

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By Sumaya Sultan-Ali

This past summer, many PVS students took advantage of their free time to enrich themselves and others by enrolling in a diverse array of summer programs and opportunities. Not only did these experiences broaden their horizons, but they also contributed to their personal and professional development. Let's celebrate the initiative shown by our PVS students as they explore such pursuits and set an example for our community!

Volunteering:
Many students used the summer to help others. Madison Mustafa (12th grade) volunteered in Oklahoma to help visually impaired children. As part of a program called OwlCamp, she partnered with a blind student and helped them through sensory trips like to the zoo.
Hala Odeh (12th grade) also volunteered at Masjid Salam.
Maymuna Faqih (11th grade) volunteered overseas with Salam Charity, helping Syrian refugees in Turkey.

The Memphis Islamic Center:
MIC hosted the THRIVE program again this year—a youth-focused leadership program that empowers teens through activities and adventures. It was run by Sheikh Yassir Fazaga, Ustadh Malik Shaw, and Reem Mohamed (12th grade), the only female mentor.
MIC also had its summer school program at the Manara Building. Noor Maree (12th grade) taught basic Arabic to the students at the program.

PVS Camps:
Warsan Sultan-Ali (10th grade) and many other students engaged in an online Data Science program created by AP Computer Science teacher Ms Sadaf. Students learned to code and compiled data on topics like women in science.

Research Programs:
Suha Faruk (12th grade) spent her summer completing St Jude’s High School Research Immersion Program. The program pairs two students with a mentor to complete and present a research project. Suha advises interested students to take advantage of such opportunities.
“Lack of experience shouldn't deter students,” she says, “because this was the first time many of these students were in such a professional laboratory setting.”

University of Memphis:
The University of Memphis ran the Physics and Materials Science Summer Camp, which is a week-long exposure program to physics and material science. Rukaia Barrouk, Ruqqaya Najdawi, and Maymuna Faqih (11th grade) all attended.
​Sumaya Sultan-Ali (12th grade) did the online Summer Trial & Advocacy Institute program, which is essentially a mock trial run by U of M graduate lawyers and law students. She learned how to put together a murder case on both the defendant and prosecution side and had the opportunity to compete against other teams.

Shadowing:
PVS students also had first-hand experiences with potential careers during the break. Rukaia Barrouk (11th grade) shadowed a doctor, and Maymuna Faqih (11th grade) shadowed an endocrinologist.