Mariam Abboud’s accolades are impressive: she received numerous scholarships, including the coveted Governor’s Distinguished, and won titles like Senior of Significance and Department of Communications’ Athens Scholar. She was named Mock Trial Double Outstanding Regional Attorney, joined Phi Beta Kappa honors society, served as a peer mentor and made the Chancellor’s and Dean’s list every semester. Before she even graduated with Latin honors, she accepted a full-tuition scholarship to attend the University of Minnesota Law School. Despite her tremendous academic record, not to mention her impact on community service, Abboud (B.A. political science and communications, magna cum laude, ’24) felt like she still had a lot to prove—mostly to herself. Below, she pens a letter to future honors students on navigating imposter syndrome and how to be kind to yourself while still reaching your dreams.
This year, I’m going to law school, and I’ll be honest: I’m scared.
However, many of my fears relate directly to the lessons I’ve learned here at the University of Arkansas Honors College. I know that moving forward, life may not lead me on a straight path, but I am reassured that I’ll figure it out, just like I did here. As you embark on your path through honors, I want to share the wisdom I learned along the way.
With the onset of the pandemic, my freshman year was not what I hoped it would be. I commuted from home, and my classes took place online. I remember stepping foot on campus only twice in the fall semester. By spring, I began volunteering at the Full Circle Food Pantry and attending a class that met in person just once every other week.
By sophomore year, I yearned to be on campus more and build a community. I looked for every opportunity to get involved and signed up to be an A-Week mentor. I remembered my mentor’s impact and wanted to pass it on. I walked into the Student Union packed with freshmen ready to explore—a stark contrast to my beginning.
“I need every mentor available to give a tour,” the person in charge said while frantically assigning us students. Just a few days prior, at the mentor orientation, we talked about this exact scenario.
A fellow mentor asked, “What if we don’t know our way around?”
“Just do your best.”
I knew I couldn’t fake expertise. They would see right through me. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair to the new students if I confidently gave wrong directions. The sun beat down on us as I admitted to my group, “I’ve only been here a handful of times, but we will figure out how to get around this campus together.” That’s what we did. After accidentally guiding the group too far past the business buildings (and apologizing for making us walk up the Kimpel-Dickson hill in the heat), we began to find our way around.
This was a moment when I realized my own imposter syndrome. I was so impressed by the other students in honors courses, Freshman Leadership Forum, Mock Trial and the Volunteer Action Center. I didn’t think I could ever be like them, feeling like they had something that I was missing.
That first tour I gave taught me that it’s okay to admit when you feel overwhelmed or unprepared, and it’s a lesson that has been reinforced throughout college. You ask questions. You keep moving forward.
A few weeks ago, I called my mom to ask, “When did you start to feel like a real adult?” She laughed and said, “I’ll let you know when I find out.” Many of the people I felt had a quality that I didn’t have were resourceful and asked many questions. People who seemed effortlessly talented actually put a lot of effort into things. We all deal with our struggles, even if we don’t show it.
Nothing about that tour went according to plan, and that’s true with life. At that moment, all that mattered was that the new students could confidently navigate campus and feel supported by me. Sometimes, you’ll apply for jobs or student leadership positions, and you won’t get them. That’s okay. You may not always get the best grades. That’s okay, too. You might get stuck in an ice storm at your parent’s house with your Mock Trial team on the way home from a tournament in Nebraska (true story!). Life is unpredictable. You might be working on your thesis and realize that you messed up your citations, and now you’re lost in a document and need to redo them. That was not fun … but still okay! All that matters is that you learn from your experiences and that you move forward. Mistakes and failure are inevitable.
Figure out what works for you, not for other people, but for you. On that tour, some students felt entirely comfortable locating their building on a map, others wanted to physically walk to it to practice their route, and some even went inside to find their classroom in advance (I am part of the latter group). College is a time to learn about yourself intentionally.
As I embark on my next journey, I know that I have a lot to learn about how to be a law student, and I also believe in my ability to adapt and utilize my resources. I know that I’ll meet incredible people and do my best to learn from them—not make comparisons. The lessons I’ve learned and the experiences I’ve had at the Honors College have been life-changing, and I will carry them with me forever.
As you walk the campus and stumble on a few hills, remember to make college a meaningful experience by trying new things. Meet as many people as possible, even if you don’t think you have anything in common. Ask lots of questions. Try new restaurants and study spots. Check out events both on and off campus. Get involved in student organizations. Volunteer. Find a new hobby, take a walk at a local park, and chat with your professors during office hours. Dream big with your thesis. Travel the world. Utilize your resources. Most importantly, realize that you’ve got this.
