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List Organizational Experience within the MSA-UMD
(include positions, responsibilities, and accomplishments, please be specific,
outlining in
detail what you individually did/accomplished):
Over this past year, I have been privileged to be the Vice
President of MSA-UMD. With this position came a great deal of responsibility.
Every meeting, I made sure to take detailed minutes of what was covered, and had
these minutes sent out to the board immediately. Along with minutes, I took
care of all room reservations throughout the year, and maintained working
relationships with essential individuals in administrative positions. During
the summer, I put in a lot of time ensuring that the MSA-TMA picnic ran
smoothly, and was planned for. During the time of Unity in Diversity, I was in
charge of gathering and organizing all the volunteers for the event
(approximately 65 people), and coordinated all their activities during the
dinner itself. I worked with the board and gathered sponsorships for this
event, and did all I could to make sure the event was a success. On the day of
the event I was on site working from early in the morning until everyone left
the building at night. The summer also had another big task that I handled with
care. To start off, our President was away for the first month, and I filled in
and took over his responsibilities for that time. However, the biggest thing
during the summer was the media spectacle over the building of the foot sinks.
I, along with a few other important individuals, had to deal with all the media
coverage that was going on. At times I was doing interviews on a daily basis;
while at other times it was weekly. I had to always stay on my feet and be
ready to represent the organization and the school, and this is one reason why
I’ve built good ties with some administrative figures. Prior to taking an
Executive Board position, I took part in many of the events that had occurred
over the past couple of years. Some specific examples include volunteering a
good deal of time in the preparation of major events, such as the past unity
dinners and g-next dinners. During the planning of the central zone conference,
on very short notice, I actually went to the Rock financial showplace and had a
meeting with and discussed various spatial and financial aspects with the person
in charge of renting the venue. This information was then passed on to Ramy,
and the rest of the C-zone “advisors.”
List Work/Volunteer Experience (include positions, responsibilities
and accomplishments in other organizations on or off campus)
I have been working at CVS in the pharmacy for almost 3
years now. My major responsibilities include processing prescriptions and
dealing with insurance and customer problems. Prior to working there, I have
had several volunteering positions, ranging from working in a hospital, to
helping with various charitable events, such as marathons supporting good
causes, and other volunteering jobs. I am currently a volunteer at Providence
Hospital in Southfield, where I work in the ER.
What are your organizational strengths? Weaknesses?
One of my organizational strengths is that I feel I can
lead people well. I believe this was evident during the Unity in Diversity
dinner when I was in charge of 65 volunteers, and during the summer, when I took
a leading role as president when our president was away.
Another one of my good organizational strengths is that I
am somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to getting things done right, and
also, on time. Prior to planning or starting a challenge I usually like to
think about how I am going accomplish my goals by dividing it up and putting
more emphasis on the most important aspects. This technique allows me to get
the job done right and have everything pre-planned so that the job is not as
stressful. At the same time, if something unexpected occurs that changes my
original course of action, I always find a way to cope with the problem and
without getting too stressed out. As for my weaknesses, sometimes I feel that
the final product after planning is not as good as it should be, and I sometimes
tend to constructively criticize the work put in. This should not be a problem
however, because I know that working with a team of other driven EBoard members
will prevent this from happening by ensuring that all final products are
completed properly and examined from all angles. I am also, as some people
might say, not so enthusiastic. I have taken this into consideration, and I
know that this is something I can change. In order to be the leader of an
organization, a level of passion and drive must exist. I feel I have these two
qualities, and I do plan on working on this weakness right away.
How do you cope and work under pressure (please answer in full
thoughts/sentences providing real-life examples/situations)?
When I am under heavy pressure work situations I always realize that the most
important thing is to get the job done properly without trying to just do the
minimum. I am often faced with situations where I have multiple exams to study
for over the weekend, and at the same time, the majority of my weekend is spent
at work. Most people would probably pull all-nighters and study at times of the
day when their brains aren’t functioning as well. As an alternative, before
starting any of my studying, or whatever duties I have to finish, I pre-plan how
I am going to attack the task at hand, and use my time very efficiently so as to
get everything done. At the same time, I do not procrastinate when I know how
important it is to have everything finished. Stressful situations are always
going to be around, but I feel that the most important thing is to find the
right course of action so as to minimize any of those outside factors. An
example of a stressful situation that I handled was on the day of the Unity
dinner when almost 20 volunteers didn’t show up on time. In order to fix this
problem quickly and properly, I distributed the volunteers to the most important
positions, and later returned them to their original tasks when the other
volunteers showed up. What looked like a stressful situation on the surface
became a solvable problem when analyzed deeper.
How well do you multi task (please answer in full thoughts/sentences providing
real-life examples/situations)?
Multi-tasking is something that I feel I am very good at
doing. I am able to work on several duties without being too overwhelmed. This
is in part due to my work ethic I suppose. I always make sure that I do my job
right, and when faced with multiple jobs, I know when to prioritize one over the
other, but at the same time, I know that all jobs are necessary and important
for success in the end. An example of when I had to multitask was over the
summer. During the summer months, I was studying for my MCAT long hours in the
day, working on planning the summer picnic and Unity in Diversity, and working.
Rather than throwing one of these tasks aside, I did all I could to divide my
time up efficiently. I spent a lot of time with MSA work to ensure that things
got done, and still maintained enough time for other responsibilities.
How do you deal with criticism (please answer in full thoughts/sentences
providing real-life examples/situations)?
Criticism is something that does not really offend my
character. I am always accepting of constructive criticism because I feel that
it can allow me enhance the flaws I may have that I may not realize. I like to
keep some of my opinions of controversial topics so as to prevent any arguments
or criticism, but at other times, when things need to be said, I don’t
completely back down. I think I dealt with the criticism I received from the
reviews this year pretty well. Some of the things I heard were really taken
into consideration, and I hope that showed in the following weeks and months.
What will your schedule look like in the 2008-2009 school year? How many
hours can you dedicate to the MSA if you are elected? List any
external factors such as parents, school, or work that might inhibit your
work.
For the summer, as of now, I plan on taking the MCAT in
late May, so this means that for the months of April and May, I will be busy
with studying. This does not mean that I cant do some work with MSA, it just
means that I will not be able to devote as much energy as I will be able to
after the MCAT. Besides that, I will be working on my medical school
applications in June (Which won’t be too time consuming at all). I may work a
couple days a week. As for the academic year, my schedule of classes won’t be
extreme, so I will be able to devote time and effort to MSA (maybe 2 science
classes and 2 or 3 other classes). My winter semester should be really open,
because I will be taking maybe 2 or 3 classes total. Lastly, during the year I
will probably be working 2-3 days a week depending on the exact times/days of my
classes.
What does MSA mean to you? Why are you getting involved with MSA, other than the
fact that you were nominated?
MSA, to me, is a like a middle-ground where the Muslim
students at our campus can come together and work together with each other, and
the community, to give a good image and understanding of Islam. At the same
time, I see it as an organization which creates a social life where Muslims and
non-Muslims can come together and have fun and make a difference in our
society. I am getting involved in MSA because I have enjoyed serving on the
board, and volunteering at many of the events, and because I support the
ideology behind the creation of the organization. I also see it as a chance to
obtain more/better organizational experience which can be helpful in the
future.
What do you feel the MSA executive board positions you are running for entails,
and why do you feel you are capable of holding such a position?
The presidential position is one that requires a great deal
of responsibility, and leadership skills. As a president, one needs to keep
continuous contact with the rest of the executive board members, ensuring that
their work gets completed, and at the same time, offering them advice or
suggestions for improvement. A president should be a person who has a good
amount of leadership experience within the organization and knows all the kinks
of system. Another key point is that president should be able to maintain solid
working relationships with faculty and administration. Of these
responsibilities, I feel that I am capable of meeting them all. I have already
held a leadership role in the organization and I am confident that I can fulfill
all the responsibilities of the position. I already have good relationships
with key figures on campus, and understand what is required in the planning of
events, such as room requirements, and campus financial requirements.
What are the main reasons you want to be elected as an MSA executive board
member? Include future plans you have in respect to the position.
I would like to be elected as an MSA executive board member
because I feel that I can take on the challenge and because I would like to work
more with the Muslims and non-Muslims on our campus and in our community. I
feel this position will allow me to maintain a strong relationship with
administration and other organizations on campus which can give a better image
of the organization. Throughout my years of involvement with the organization,
I have grown an attachment to its cause. I want to make next year a great year
for MSA, and I want its name to be known across campus. I want people to
realize the importance of our cause and I really would like to see a large
increase in not only members, but active members. I would also like the
extra-curricular experience that many medical schools like to see from
applicants now-a-days. I enjoy being in leadership positions because I like to
be challenged, and from my experience, I know this challenge would be one that
could really help mold my character.
If you lose the elections, what will your course of action be towards the
organization (please specify)?
If I do lose the elections, I will continue working with
MSA as I have been for the past couple of years. I enjoy volunteering and
aiding in the planning of events. I will continue to support MSA with its
events and community service project. I would really like to take on the
position, however, if I lose, I will congratulate the winner and continue doing
what I have been doing. And if at any time I am looked to for advice, I will
always be there to help out.
If you are elected, will your parent(s) be supportive of your work with the
organization?
Yes, I believe that my parents will be very supportive of my work with the
organization because they know that I always like to challenge myself, and that
I have had a good record of doing things right.
What do you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of MSA-UMD?
As for its strengths, I feel that MSA-UMD is very notable
organization, in the sense that it has made a great presence and mark on the
campus. I feel that the MSA is one of the more successful organizations
available to students. The ability to plan and execute so many events (large
and small scale) shows the devotion of its leaders and members. As for its
weaknesses, I think the MSA should try to incorporate its members more into the
planning of events, instead of keeping it solely based on the opinions of the
EBoard members. That way, the members would feel like they are more important
in the success of the organization, and at the same time, it would give them
more incentive to get more involved. From what I have seen this year, the
meetings and events have had low attendance from general body members. We as an
organization need to seek out those individuals who don’t come and see what
their reasons are so we can better ourselves and the organization. At time, MSA
also tries to just meet what’s required of it, and does not really move out of
the box. MSA needs to make more events that incorporate non-Muslims and events
that enhance student life.
Have you fully read & understood the constitution, have you specifically
understood your duties/responsibilities?
Yes, I have read the constitution, and the responsibilities
of the president position, and I feel that I can meet all of what is expected of
me.
How well do you work with others? Give an example of when you led a team and
how you delegated responsibilities and ensure team cohesiveness.
I feel that I work very well with others as long as
everyone is willing to work. When a team of people all see the final goal, then
the road to get to that goal becomes easier, and clearer. I feel that when
given the opportunity to work with other people, there is the added benefit of
other people’s points of view, which can be greatly beneficial when working on a
challenge. These are just a few of the aspects of working with a team which I
have noticed first hand, both from my work with this organization, and through
my pharmacy and research work. Unity in Diversity, as I mentioned before, was a
great example of how I delegated responsibilities to a team of 65 people. Not
only did I simply assign positions to all the volunteers, I was continuously
talking and checking in with them throughout the night to make sure they felt
like they were needed and appreciated. Basically, the most important thing
behind getting the event to launch successfully was to have a strong commitment
from all the members, and good leader is needed to maintain that connection.
Which Islamic school of thought do you subscribe to, and what is you viewpoint
in regards to other schools of thought?
I follow the Sunni school of thought. I realize that many
people may follow a certain school of thought, however, I sometime see it as an
issue when we segregate ourselves based on certain views. This is something
that I really want to see changed next year, especially between Sunni and Shia
students on campus. We need to unite more and work together. I feel that it is
important to be respectful to anyone’s beliefs or to which school they may
follow. |
