How I Fell in Love with My Native Tongue at GU-Q

By Sama Alissa (SFS’27).

When I first arrived at GU-Q, there was one academic requirement I was secretly dreading: Language Proficiency. Having grown up a native speaker of Arabic and having studied it for 12 years, it was the natural choice for me to pursue my proficiency in Arabic. Up until that point, Arabic classes had always felt like a mere checkbox on my educational to-do list. The thought of enduring this once more in university was less than appealing.

As luck would have it, my first semester passed without the need to enroll in an Arabic course, which was a relief. However, when registration for the Spring semester approached, the inevitable could no longer be delayed. Despite my initial hesitation and thoughts of postponing it for another year, my friends encouraged me to tackle the requirement head-on. Gratefully yielding to their persuasion, I stumbled upon a course titled “Arabic Drama.” As a theater enthusiast from high school, the connection was instant. The course promised an exploration of Arabic plays, a fusion of language and performance that was too enticing to ignore.

Collecting my textbooks from the bookstore, I held a hefty stack of Arabic plays. As I flipped through one, a wave of apprehension washed over me. This nervousness loomed large on the first day of class, where my contribution was limited to a brief self-introduction. For the initial weeks, I remained a silent observer, intimidated by my peers’ fluency and my own perceived inadequacies.

However, everything changed as we delved into our first play. The storyline captivated me, the characters resonated with me, and I found myself eagerly awaiting each class discussion. My enthusiasm overcame my fear, and soon, I was participating more actively. With every class, my confidence grew, and what began as my most daunting course quickly became the highlight of my semester.

This experience in “Arabic Drama” not only rekindled my love for Arabic but also deepened my appreciation for its literary richness. It bridged my passion for the arts with my academic pursuits in Culture and Politics, illustrating the powerful way literature can inform and enhance our understanding of cultural and political landscapes. This class was not just the requirement I needed to complete to sit for language proficiency; it was a journey back to my cultural roots and a reaffirmation of why I chose to major in Culture and Politics at GU-Q. It underscored the intrinsic value of integrating one’s passions with their academic endeavors, enriching my university experience and broadening my intellectual horizons.

This newfound appreciation for Arabic literature has become a cornerstone of my studies, blending seamlessly with my love for Arab Studies and the arts. It has transformed the way I engage with my coursework and deepened my commitment to exploring the nuanced intersections of culture, politics, and literature. At Georgetown, I’ve learned that education is not just about fulfilling requirements, it’s about discovering new passions and rediscovering old ones, all while shaping a unique academic and personal identity.

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