College Profile: Amir Mohamed '18 setting sights on TCU
Originally from Somalia, Amir is excited to be at the diverse TCU campus.
This story is part of a series of college profiles featuring students from Rabun Gap’s Class of 2018.
As the first in his family to attend college, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School senior Sayidomar "Amir" Mohamed of Somalia will start his postsecondary educational journey at Texas Christian University some 11,000 miles away from his homeland.
But that’s no challenge for Amir - he’s been living and learning as an international boarding student at Rabun Gap. Amir came to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School from Somalia, where he attended an American boarding school called Abaarso School.
During his junior year at Abaarso, he was given the opportunity to apply to five boarding schools in the United States. He was drawn to Rabun Gap because of the School’s commitment to embracing diversity, with more than 45 countries represented in the student body.
In the same way, TCU stood out to Amir due to its diverse, welcoming campus. Founded in 1873, TCU’s mission is to educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community. The campus is located in Fort Worth, Texas and offers 119 undergraduate areas of study, 53 master’s level programs, and 28 areas of doctoral study.Amir plans to major in computer engineering and business.
“I have five Abaarso friends in TCU, all majoring in different things, but they are so happy,” Amir said. “Every time I talk to them, they mention how TCU respects the value of diversity and has a family atmosphere. It will be my first time in a big school, with so many offerings, from top-of-the-line facilities to so many choices of majors and activities, to big time athletics”
At Rabun Gap, Amir has been a strong proponent for diversity and inclusion. He is a member of the Inclusion Initiative, which regularly discusses compelling topics such as faith, gender, and sexuality with Rabun Gap community.
Amir is one of 25 international students from the Class of 2018 attending colleges and universities in the United States. These students, representing more than a dozen different countries, are headed to some of the top-ranked colleges across the nation, including the University of Southern California, Emory University, and Purdue University.
Many members of the Class of 2018, both international and domestic, are first-generation college students. For Amir, becoming the first in his family to continue his education means so much
“ It means that I am a role model for my younger siblings,” he said.
" Amir shows me daily what a difference one opportunity can make for a student's future,” said Cheryl Barber, Director of College Counseling. “He is focused and driven to change his life and create a better future. I admire his willingness to be such a strong role mode for his younger siblings. Amir embodies Rabun Gap's mission as he Leads the Way!"
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a private, coeducational day and boarding school for grades Pre-K through 12. Centrally located between Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, we prepare young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.
