Anthropology graduate sees a future in law

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2023 graduates.

One test changed Rhad Fakhoury's mind about his college career and now the first-generation student will be interning on Capitol Hill and is working on his LSATs.

At the start of his undergraduate journey, Fakhoury was studying to go into medicine. However, he ended up finding his passion elsewhere after a cultural anthropology course led him to major in anthropology.

He is graduating this fall with a bachelor's degree from the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.  

Answers have been edited for length and clarity. 

Question: Why did you choose ASU?

Answer: I chose ASU because of the student body atmosphere, excellent academics and gorgeous campus. This campus has been on my bucket list since I first visited it during my freshman year of high school. It was eye-opening and exactly what I needed. 

Q: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?

A: During my first year at ASU, I had an "aha" moment when I received a 7% on my chemistry exam. I was originally planning to major in biochemistry, but after that test, I realized it wasn't for me. I've never seen such a poor score in my life for anything I worked really hard on studying for. I went to my advisor the day after the exam results were revealed, and I was quite humiliated when she asked why I wanted to switch, but I thought it was a fair explanation. That, plus the fact that I had lost interest in medicine.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: Something that surprised me about ASU in general was how serious football is. Because American football does not exist in the Middle East — where I spent my adolescent years — witnessing how energetic people were and how excited they were for Saturday night lights got me incredibly interested in what this sport has to offer. I spent 11 years of my life in Amman, Jordan. I was born in California and moved back when my father chose to start a business in his homeland. Then we decided to return to the United States to further our education.

Q: How do you feel about being a first-generation college student?

A: It's an incredible feeling to be a first-generation student. I'm really proud, and I know that my deceased father would be very proud of his youngest son for finishing his degree and continuing on to study law. Almost everyone in my immediate family has urged me to continue. We are all pushing one another toward greatness despite all of the difficulties we have faced and overcome.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: After graduation, I'll be heading to the East Coast for an internship with a member of Congress on Capitol Hill. Following that internship, I intend to go to law school in the fall of 2024 to obtain my Juris Doctorate in intellectual property law. My brother works as a press secretary for a well-known congresswoman in Washington, D.C., and I am grateful that he gave me the resources to pursue that path and obtain an internship myself. I have not yet applied to law schools, but I am now taking the LSATs.