Ruby Hasnie

December, 2009 Spotlight

Alumna Ruby Hasnie, now a second year medical student at the Southern Illinois University

Ruby Hasnie's history with Chicago Scholars goes back to 2002, when, as a high school student, she received one of the organization's now discontinued $1000 scholarships. Over the coming years, while majoring in biology at the University of Chicago, she came back again and again for networking events and workshops. "Anything that was going on, I just showed up because I loved the organization," she explains. Eventually Ruby signed on as a peer mentor, a program she would go on to manage from 2007 to 2008 as a member of the Chicago Scholars development team.

Some of Ruby's duties included organizing college orientation weeks, "helping students move in, getting them adjusted to living in a big city, leading discussions on diversity, and being a general support for incoming students." To do this, she drew on her own experience in college, where she displayed a commitment to making the most of a diverse community: at the University of Chicago, she co-founded the Interfaith Dialogue Group, which offered to the student body such events as interfaith fast-breaking dinners after Ramadan, interfaith Shabbat dinners, interfaith Fat Tuesday celebrations, and so on. Ruby also helped create awareness for a yearly day of service and other events designed to give students an open environment in which to talk about their faith and religion in general. She also served as liaison between the Interfaith Dialogue Group and the Muslim Students Association, on whose board she served as secretary.

Ruby recalls the organization's open and accommodating atmosphere. "I found that everyone who works there is a mentor and is there for me whenever I need help or support," she says. Like her, her two younger siblings, encouraged by their Pakistani immigrant parents to make the most of their educational opportunities, have started taking part in Chicago Scholar activities as well.

Now a second year medical school at Southern Illinois University, Ruby has not yet decided on the specialty she plans to pursue, but is leaning at present toward pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology. No matter what path she chooses to pursue, she counts on the continued support of Chicago Scholars. "It's a great way to get where you want to be," she says, "with added support that you never thought you'd have."