Activist Spotlight: Hana Malik ’18

PaceU Junior Hana Malik is a pre-med student with dreams of becoming a doctor – and she’s a published poet as well as an activist for Syrian Refugees working with the United Muslim Relief, an organization working to amplify the voices of refugees and raise money to help them fund themselves in such a challenging transitional time. Read on to learn more about Hana, her work as an activist, how writing has impacted her life, and how you can get involved as well!

Year of Graduation: 2018
Major: Biology
Minor: Neuroscience
Career Aspirations: I aspire to be a pediatrician, so a physician for children. I’d also like for neurology to be my speciality as a doctor, but still with kids. I would focus on treating and finding cures for children with neuro deficiencies or inherited illnesses such as autism.

I firmly believe that words are not enough. Posting on social media is not enough. You need to have actual actions, you need to physically get involved and touch someone else’s suffering in order to release them from it.

Tell us about your work with the United Muslim Relief, what is this organization all about and what drove you and inspires you to work with this organization?

The UMR is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping countries with developmental needs. It is our belief that everyone has a right to live free of poverty in a secure and more equitable world where they are able to fully realize their potential. As a Muslim, my religion of Islam prioritizes helping others in need. Seeing the movements that people have begun through this organization inspired me to join because they are wonderfully productive and you can first-hand experience the changes your help makes. The organization in general has a very unified approach to humanity which you cannot find much of these days. It is their statement that, “We believe that all people, regardless of race or religion, should have access to clean water, to healthcare, to earn a sustainable livelihood and to have access to basic social services.” And that is genuinely what all of their members work towards through fundraising and creating awareness for world issues.

Why is it important to you as an activist to promote awareness and stand up for this organization?

I firmly believe that words are not enough. Posting on social media is not enough. You need to have actual actions, you need to physically get involved and touch someone else’s suffering in order to release them from it.

How did you become so involved with this photo campaign and what are your goals within this organization?

Syrian refugees in particular have caused an international uproar in being portrayed as terrorists. The goal of this campaign is to shed light on how those individuals are human and not much different than you or I within the realms of their own lives. They are just unfortunate enough to be going through what they are and in another world that could have been us or our countries. Their misfortune should not define them and the main objective of this campaign is to give them their voices back but also to raise money to help them fund themselves until they can get back on their feet.

I heard you just recently had a poetry book published. Congrats! What were your inspirations behind the text and what was the writing process like?

I was born and raised in America but my parents, the two most important people in my life, were born and raised thousands of miles away in Pakistan. Them learning what is it like to live here while me being taught of what it means to have roots planted on the other side of the world caused a lot of culture clash. Growing up I had problems and conflicts not a lot of other people in my environment shared. I enjoyed the freedom writing gave me, a world where my two identities and frankly anything else I wanted could co-exist and become one. Before I knew it, I would write about anything and everything and still do. But as I’ve become older I’ve become my biggest critic. The writing process for Raw was very difficult and I didn’t have a book as an end-goal in mind until I had completed about 25 poems and realized what was before me. The poems were inspired by concepts of love, self-identity and forgiveness which are the main reoccurring themes in anyone’s life regardless of their age. And it worked out. I’ve been told the poems are relateable and that is what I wanted more than anything else. For people to connect.

Growing up I had problems and conflicts not a lot of other people in my environment shared. I enjoyed the freedom writing gave me, a world where my two identities and frankly anything else I wanted could co-exist and become one. Before I knew it, I would write about anything and everything and still do.

You’re also on the Pre-Med track here at Pace. With all of the many things you are involved with, how do you balance a strong presence in these campaigns, a heavy course load, and  your personal life?

I take it day by day. And I plan ahead. The week I know I have an exam or quiz I don’t plan anything extra-circular wise. I don’t waste my weekends. I give myself time off. I understand there is a time and place for everything, it is hard but I won’t let them overlap. I take advantage of multi-tasking when I can. But really I remind myself that I’m human, not a machine. I have everything prioritized in my head. If there is ever a time when it all becomes too much I have to take a step back and remember my career comes first. My biggest aspiration in life is to be a doctor and I always remind myself that if I can just achieve that I have already dedicated my life to helping others as much as I can.

We hear that you have future plans with the United Muslim Relief. What can you tell us about this and how can someone become involved?

Myself along with a few other individuals are planning to start a chapter for UMR at Pace! We are currently in contact with their national board and should everything go well we will be working with them to create fundraisers and shed light to international issues such as advocacy, youth mobilization, disaster response, aid delivery, and empowerment through education. Anyone interested is welcome to join and can contact me at hm61423n@pace.edu.

This interview was conducted by Cesar Ballesteros, Student Outreach and New Media Projects Coordinator for the Center for Community Action and Research at Pace University NYC. Do you know a Pace student, staff, or faculty member doing amazing work who should be featured as a volunteer or activist spotlight? Get in touch with us at ccarny@pace.edu!