“Being involved in OCC built my personality and made me the person who I am today.
If had to choose again whether I want to attend OCC or go straight to a four-year
institution, I would definitely choose OCC again and again.”
- Razan Alali
Major: Associate of Arts degree
Student Involvement/honors: Phi Theta Kappa, International Student Club; 2020 Outstanding OCC Student
Q: What were your biggest accomplishments?
A: I received my Associate Degree in Art from OCC, and I was able to transfer to the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: I didn’t give up. I kept trying to be better every single day and learn new ways to fit in the new virtual normal life. I also am helping people during this pandemic by volunteering at Beaumont Hospital.
Q: What kind of support did you receive from faculty over the past year?
A: I am very lucky to be a student recruiter at OCC because I don’t see my coordinators as coordinators and managers only, but also as my second family. They meet with us student recruiters every month to check on us and see how we are doing in our lives. They are very caring people and understanding.
Q: What are the next steps for you after leaving OCC?
A: I am currently a full time student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I am majoring in public health as a pre-med/dental school and taking the rest of my prerequisites that I still can take from OCC. I am planning on studying for the MCAT or DAT and to apply to medical schools or dental schools.
Q: If you had to pick one thing you’re taking away from your experiences over the past year, what would it be?
A: Start to fit into the new normal and learn new things that can help you. Change is not easy for me, yet I know and believe that without getting out my comfort zone, I would not be able to achieve my goals, dreams and be the person I always dreamed to be.
Q: From the lessons you learned in the past year, what advice would you give to future students?
A: Never give up no matter how hard things are getting. I left my family, friends, home country and traveled far away to study medicine and achieve my goals. I felt alone without my family, but I used to always remind myself that I didn’t come this far just to come this far. I have a dream, and I know that it is not impossible to achieve it.