Muheeb Hijazeen’s interest in social justice began as he grew up in Amman, Jordan.
“Living in Jordan helped bring a unique perspective on how I see people and how different people are treated differently in our society. I’m passionate about being there for someone and making sure my voice is heard and going for what’s right – on my behalf or for someone, “says Hijazeen.
Although Hijazeen is majoring in Industrial & Systems Engineering, inspired by his father’s career as a mechanical engineer, the exposure to different needs in Jordan was the start of his passion for helping people in need leading him to add a minor in Pre-Law.
“I’m someone who doesn’t want to be restricted and put in a certain box. I want to challenge the norms and push myself to the limits, but also do things I enjoy. My Pre-Law passion came in Summer of 2020, and it showed me how passionate I can be for social justice and for those who need it.”
The junior immigrated to the United States seven years ago. When it was time to search for a college, he sought a campus that would provide a sense of community while also fostering his growing passion for social justice and community service. Outside of his major, Hijazeen was drawn to the Mount Scholars Program, one of 16 Ohio State Scholars programs which focuses on students committed to leadership and community service.
“You can always make a big campus small, but you can never make a small campus big. I always wanted to make campus small and find a community that I relate to,” says Hijazeen. “The reason I continue to stay interested in the program is being surrounded by those people and using my work to educate them and getting educated more on topics that really interest me.”
The Mount Scholar previously served on the program’s Leadership and Social Change Committee board, which hosts different roundtables about the history and prejudice of the Hijab, effects of fast fashion and the history of Native Americans. Last month, he helped organize an event with the Mount Scholars titled "U.S. Prison Systems – History and Prejudice." which detailed the history and prejudice in the prison system – the difference between abolition and reform. Hijazeen says he enjoys seeing his work prosper by educating those around him along with fostering the community he was searching for.
That community includes the faculty and staff who are helping him achieve his goals. He credits his engineering statics professor, Dr. Tarunjit Butalia, with teaching him the importance of caring for others and seeing their stories. Meanwhile, Dr. Tiyi Morris, an Associate Professor of African American and African Studies, has helped him understand and gain knowledge about injustices and how to combat them. Mount Scholars Program Manager, Kathy Krajnak (pictured to the right), is also among those championing him to success.
“Kathy has been extremely supportive and helpful throughout my college experience. She has supported me when I was looking for internships, fine my passions, and helped me continue valuing the importance of mental health.”
With another year of undergraduate studies ahead of him, Hijazeen wants to continue traveling to other countries like Malaysia to continue experiencing different cultures. Although the scholar is looking forward to applying to law school, he wants to see where the journey into the unknown takes him.