EL CAJON—A high school junior from Iraq, who has compiled a 4.0 grade point average and predicts she will be the first member of her family to graduate from high school, has won this year’s “First Female” essay contest sponsored by the English Department of Grossmont College and the El Cajon-La Mesa chapter of the American Association of University Women.
Lana Abdulrazzaq, a student at El Cajon Valley High School, was awarded a $500 prize at a recent AAUW luncheon at the Courtyard by Marriott at Liberty Station. Nervously, she read her essay to a room full of appreciative university graduates, and had the opportunity to meet Kathi Diamant, the featured speaker of the afternoon, who presented Abdulrazzaq with an autographed copy of her biographical Kafka’s Last Love.
Sydney Brown, an English professor who chairs the “First Female” essay contest, said Abdulrazzaq spoke at the luncheon meeting earlier this year about how her Chaldean family members are refugees from Iraq, how she learned English in the United States, how she tries to be a role model for her younger sister, and how she aspires to go to UCLA to become a medical doctor. She thanked the guests for helping her to realize her dream to become a doctor.
This is the third year of the contest, with one previous winner having told of being the first member of her family to arrive in the United States from China, and another winner having written about being the first in her family to learn English.
Brown said that she and English Department chair, Dr. Oralee Holder, devised the contest to inspire young women to think of themselves with self-confidence as “firsts.” Under the arrangement with the AAUW, the English Department contributes $250 toward the award and AAUW provides the other $250.
“Part of the English Department’s goal is to do community outreach,” Brown said. “There is a natural partnership with the AAUW.” -- DHH
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