- Zeena Lattouf
- Pace Academy, senior
Zeena Lattouf and a few of her friends planned to travel to Jordan over spring break to build houses through Habitat for Humanity International.
While this is the first time in the Middle East for many of her friends, it is not for Zeena. Her parents were born in Jordan and she lived there for six years. Fluent in Arabic, Zeena visits Amman, Jordan’s capital, every summer to spend time with her family. She has more than 60 cousins.
She tells her friends about her trips to Jordan, but they have never been able to live the experience. She is excited to show them her “life in the Middle East.” Zeena loves how gracious everyone in Amman is. While there are many differences, Zeena says that the biggest culture shock is the attire. When going somewhere such as the grocery, women must wear either a long skirt or pants.
“Going back to visit Jordan every summer has made me passionate about two things: the Middle East, and fixing inequality in the Middle East,” said Zeena. “Whether it is between men and women, or healthcare, those are all things that I know I want to make a difference in.”
And she’s seen other parts of the world, too. She loves meeting new people and learning about different cultures. She says she even enjoys the hassles associated with traveling. “It is so interesting how we live so far apart, but are so similar,” Zeena said.
Last spring, Zeena traveled to China as part of a student tour. She spent time in Beijing and Shanghai. In Beijing, she learned about the Chinese people and their culture. Shanghai, she said, felt more like New York. While there, she had the opportunity to meet with officials from large companies, such as Coca-Cola.
In Cambridge, England, last summer Zeena attended the Society of International Business Fellows Academy. She studied how to handle money and to give back to the community. “That course was one of the most beneficial things I have ever experienced,” she said.
At school, Zeena is the president of the student body this year. In past years, she has been president of her class each year from ninth through 11th grades. “I like to be very involved and I like to improve things,” Zeena said.
Tim Horner, Zeena’s student council advisor, believes that she is one of the best presidents the council has ever had. He describes her as well-organized, ambitious and and feels the council has had more direction since Zeena became a part of it.
Zeena also is active with the ArtReach Foundation, which uses art to help parents and children who have experienced traumatizing events, and captains the varsity tennis team.
What’s Next:
Zeena will be attending Emory University in the fall. She plans on studying business and hopes to pursue a career in international business. She also plans to keep traveling. She thinks her next trips will take her to Turkey and Switzerland.