Lively Leena
Driven by a love for learning and a passion for problem-solving, senior Leena Hamad’s vibrant personality has catapulted her to success in science, music and activism on campus. Hamad credits some of the development of her dynamic personality to her Islamic elementary and middle schools, which she said “were really good in shaping [her] own identity.” However, for her high school years, Hamad wanted an environment with rigorous academic standards and a community with new, diverse perspectives for her to encounter. Her persistence and curiosity drove her to Exeter.
Hamad grew up in a STEM-centered environment; her father is a computer scientist, and her mother is a dentist. However, it wasn’t until coming to Exeter that Hamad discovered science, particularly biology, to be her primary interest. “Taking prep bio was transformative for me—it really kickstarted this fascination,” she said. Hamad’s passion for science has continued to develop over her years at Exeter, as she thrives in the most challenging biology courses the school has to offer. She even partook in a molecular biology research program to study DNA engineering and transformation at Boston University over the summer between her upper and senior year. Her brother, prep Mahdi Hamad, has seen his sister’s passion for biology blossom over the past few years. “I know that [biology] is one thing she’s very passionate about and going to go for in her career.” Senior Athena Gerasoulis, a close friend of Hamad’s, also expressed her admiration for her friend’s interest in biology; in fact, their friendship formed in biology class. “She was in my prep year biology class, where she understood everything, and I was completely lost,” Gerasoulis said.
True to her values, Hamad generously allows other students to utilize her talent in the sciences by participating in Peer Tutoring, where she helps other Exonians with biology, chemistry and mathematics. “She likes to help people,” Mahdi Hamad said. In agreement with Gerasoulis’ sentiment, he explained that his sister only felt content when spreading knowledge to others, as opposed to only doing her own work.
In addition to Peer Tutoring, Hamad shows her passion for helping others in the clubs that she leads. She is co-head of Exeter’s Muslim Student Association, leads the Middle Eastern and North African Society and serves as a day student representative in the Student Council. Participating in an affinity group is very important to Hamad, because she felt as though she “could share my identity and experiences with others and have them share theirs with me.” As the daughter of immigrants, Hamad expressed that she has “always been kind of in two places at once” in regards to her identity. “I’ve been on that mission, where I’ve discovered and found parts of myself and Islam that made me really happy. Going to an Islamic school really helped me solidify my identity in a country where it is hard to do that,” she said. Hamad brings speakers to the Muslim Student Association and plans events for the club as well. “I believe really strongly in expanding perspectives and expanding world views,” she said. Her goal is to “bring awareness to the community about the issues we face.”
Her activism for minorities on campus has helped her make many friends. Senior Elizabeth Yang has known Leena since prep year, when they bonded over being day students of color together. Teachers know Hamad as a student who possesses the ability to speak and be a figure of strength in representation of her experiences. “She is the quintessential multi-cultural student, without any fanfare—a female Muslim student in America grounded in her Sudanese-African heritage,” history instructor Kwasi Boadi said.
Throughout her time at Exeter, Hamad has evolved into a frequent assembly speaker and zealous participant at the Harkness table. Mahdi Hamad reflected that his sister used to be “a lot shyer, but soon enough she was able to publicly speak.” Boadi also spoke highly of her speaking skills, particularly in Harkness, saying that Hamad is “the ideal Harkness student—the one who first listens to several inputs from her classmates… offering her own interpretations and conclusions in a nuanced and most collegial way.” Gerasoulis attributes Hamad’s speaking skill to her friend’s inherent ability to “take the time to learn, evaluate and view from all perspectives before making any judgements.”
Another avid interest of Hamad’s is her music. Hamad manages Women’s Chorus and plays piano in her free time. She says that music is one of the activities that doesn’t cause her any stress; she does it solely for her own enjoyment and the freedom she gains from the pieces. “Music is so expressive and so amazing; it is a great avenue to let yourself go and let yourself out,” she said. Besides music, Hamad also enjoys reflecting on her experiences through writing. “I’ll write in my free time, just about things that I’m thinking or feeling.”
In the future, Hamad plans on continuing to explore activism through extracurricular activities, particularly in Sudan. She occasionally thinks about going back to her parents’ homeland to try to bring about positive change in the country. “With the travel ban and everything, it’s just throwing a fork into everything,” she said, referring to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order. “It’s frustrating for me, but it is heartbreaking for people that just don’t have any options,” she said. These altruistic aspirations are clear examples of why her advisor, Modern Languages Instructor Ming Fontaine, describes her as “a mature, thoughtful and kind person.” Hamad’s genuinely altruistic nature, combined with her soaring ambition, will help her accomplish her goals beyond Exeter. As her close friend and senior Zea Eanet said, “I simply can’t wait to watch her carve her blazing trail through the world.”