Faith motivates first-generation student to succeed


May 9, 2022

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2022 graduates.

Family and faith are of the utmost importance to Alaa Amjad Khalaf, a first-generation college student who is proud to be a Palestinian Muslim woman.   Alaa Khalaf looks directly at the camera. She is wearing a black dress or top with small white dots arranged in vertical lines. A light blue scarf wraps around her head, covering her hair and draping over her shoulders. Her face is visible. Alaa Amjad Khalaf is a first-generation college student who is proud to be a Palestinian Muslim woman. She credits her faith and family for inspiring her on her journey to earn two bachelor's degrees from ASU while also being a part of Barrett, The Honors College. Download Full Image

Khalaf is graduating as a Barrett, The Honors College student with bachelor’s degrees in political science and international letters and cultures (Arabic studies) from the School of Politics and Global Studies and the School of International Letters and Cultures, respectively. She added the concurrent major in Arabic studies midway through her time at ASU because she “realized that I need something that will always keep me connected to my Palestinian roots.” 

Khalaf moved to Palestine with her mother and brother after the death of her father when she was just 4 years old. Amjad Khalaf was her father’s name, and she feels honored to have it as part of her own name.  

Her father was “the joy and light of my life,” she said. “The clear memories of him and all the happy moments are engraved in my mind and will never be forgotten.” 

Khalaf’s mother dedicated her whole life to raising Khalaf and her brother. Along the way, her mother instilled in her the value of a good education, especially for women. She pushed Khalaf to do and be her best as a trailblazer in their family, the first to graduate college.  

In addition to her parents, Khalaf draws inspiration from her immigrant grandparents, who she said “taught me that hard work always pays off.” 

In particular, her grandfather, Nashat Khalaf, was a role model who demonstrated strength and dedication. He was a man of faith who achieved all that he envisioned and credited Allah for his successes. 

“The most valuable thing he has taught me is to put trust in Allah. With your trust in him, everything you will ever need will be handed to you,” Khalaf said. Her grandfather “taught me that anything you want and work for is yours. (He) taught me to take life step by step and to reach for the sky.” 

Everyone in her family is hard-working, Khalaf said, although she wasn’t a dedicated student in her younger years. But she wanted to make her family proud, so she worked hard to improve as a student so that she could achieve her goals. After graduating high school in Palestine, Khalaf moved back to the U.S. to attend college. 

“I met many people from different backgrounds and gained a ton of knowledge. I tried my best to be the best version of myself mentally and physically every day, month and year — meaning every day I had to improve,” she said. 

Her efforts were recognized by her professors, including Associate Professor of Arabic Souad T. Ali, who is the faculty head of Classics and Middle Eastern studies, coordinator of Arabic studies and founding chair of the ASU Council for Arabic and Islamic Studies. This spring, Khalaf was one of five students to receive the Dr. Souad T. Ali's Award of Excellence in Advanced Arabic.

“Her professional and extracurricular activities nationally and locally, including serving as an Arabic tutor and being a member of several student clubs promoting peace and cross-cultural understanding at ASU, has been remarkable,” Ali said.  

Besides her Arabic studies degree, Khalaf also was able to connect with her Palestinian culture through her honors thesis project, which she completed alongside her cousin, Rawaan Khatib. Khalaf and Khatib’s project, titled “Traditional Palestinian Recipes from Our Grandmother’s Kitchen,” documents family dishes and stories alongside a history of Palestinian cuisine and its most common ingredients. Prior to completing the honors thesis, the two cousins enjoyed Palestinian food but did not know much about its background or how to prepare it.  

“Learning the recipes and translating them into measured ingredients and actions helped them connect with their heritage,” said Honors Faculty Fellow Sarah Graff, who advised Khalaf on the honors thesis. “Creating the cookbook was a welcome reminder of her past.” 

Graff said the project encapsulated all the key parts of an honors thesis, starting with an idea the student is passionate about and extending through a demonstration of research and writing skills. It was creative, engaging and forward-thinking.  

“By learning how to make these recipes, Alaa and Rawaan can bring their cultural roots back into their own daily practice and preserve the techniques for future generations,” Graff said.  

The skills Khalaf demonstrated in her honors thesis project and all her coursework while at ASU will be valuable as she applies her degrees to her future career. 

“I have no doubt in my mind that she will be equally successful in any future academic field of study and professional career,” Ali said. 

Khalaf plans to celebrate her graduation by visiting Palestine to recharge amid family and friends before taking the LSAT and applying to law school. “From there, I will start a new chapter of my life,” she said. 

Starting a new chapter is something Khalaf has done a few times now. Between her supportive family and the strength of her faith, she knows she has all the tools she needs to trust herself, stay motivated and pursue her dreams.  

“After all, nothing you truly want or dream of is easy  it’s all hard and requires a ton of time and dedication,” Khalaf said. “Thankfully, with the support of my family and ASU professors, achieving my goals became a dash easier.” 

Kimberly Koerth

Content Writer, School of International Letters and Cultures

Grad student to prep for law school after completion of double major


May 9, 2022

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2022 graduates.

Arizona State University student Gabriela Galaz plans to graduate this May with a double major in political science and Spanish with aspirations to become an attorney.  Portrait of ASU grad Gabriela Galaz. Gabriela Galaz Download Full Image

“I felt having a background in political science and Spanish will help me be best prepared for this type of career while still allowing me to keep my options open,” Galaz said. 

“My degree in political science will help me understand the legalities and policy aspects while my degree in Spanish will help me effectively communicate with a wider range of clients and communities.”

Through the School of Politics and Global Studies, Galaz studied American politics, international politics, ethics and more. These courses helped in her pursuit of greater knowledge of the legal system. 

With this broadened understanding, Galaz was able to receive hands-on experience during her time at ASU, interning and working for several law firms, including as a legal assistant at Moore Law Firm. 

Galaz says she was able to grow and develop as a professional during her time with the firm. As a legal assistant, she sat in on intake meetings, sent correspondence, ordered medical records and police records, and also conducted client communication. It was during this experience that she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the legal field after being exposed to immigration law.  

The completion of this internship opened more doors for Galaz, and she now works for Snell & Wilmer as a part of the probate and trusts practice group. This opportunity allows her to expand her knowledge in various fields of law that she can pursue in the future. 

“I am very excited to be a part of a firm like Snell & Wilmer, which prides itself on professional development and helping its employees grow,” Galaz said. 

As Galaz approaches graduation, she reflects on the first time she sat in a political science class at ASU. 

“It had been the first time in all my years of schooling that my classes actually made sense to me and kept me engaged. I realized I genuinely enjoyed the material we were learning, as well as my class discussions, especially since this had been my first real exposure to people from all kinds of different backgrounds and beliefs,” Galaz said. 

Galaz plans to work in a full-time position for Snell & Wilmer as she takes a gap year from school to prepare for law school. Ahead of graduating, she answered some questions about her time at ASU.

Question: Do you have a favorite professor from the School of Politics and Global Studies? If so, who and why?

Answer: One of my favorite professors was Professor Ripley. I always enjoyed his classes, as they were very engaging. His global politics class was also my first exposure to international politics, which was super interesting and maybe an interest I pursue in the future. 

Q: What advice would you give to freshmen coming to ASU in the fall? 

A: If you are given the opportunity and are able to, I recommend joining the Early Start program. Participating in this program was one of my best decisions, as it helped me ease into the college transition and made me more aware of what resources were available.

Student Journalist, School of Politics and Global Studies

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