Heidelberg University is a community, a family, comprised of as many personalities as there are people. With our “5 Things to Know” blog, you’ll get to know some of them. You’ll learn about their Heidelberg experience and other informative, fun – even quirky – anecdotes. Together, they tell the Heidelberg story.
Maram Alforgani, a native of Libya, is not the first, or second, of her family to attend Heidelberg. Both of her older brothers have already graduated from Heidelberg. Both siblings have business aspirations for their careers while Maram, an international studies major, is taking a different road. “I think of myself more of a politician than a businesswoman,” she says. Her uncle is a diplomat in the United Arab Emirates and she hopes to follow along those lines one day. “That would be my dream job.”
Be unique
“Heidelberg changed me a lot,” Maram says. “Back home, I’ve always been known as the ‘daughter of … ’ while here I’m known for who I am and what I can do.” She credits being a Chaplain’s assistant and the vice president of the World Student Union on teaching her responsibility and independence.
World Student Union
As the VP of WSU, Maram helps plan events to make international students feel as at home at Heidelberg. “We’ve got students from all over and we want to make them all feel welcome with things that they would have or do at home.” With German, British, Chinese, Japanese, Colombian, and many other cultures represented on campus, she says the WSU will find a way to accommodate each and every one of them.
Religious life
Maram is the student representative for Religious Life for Islam at Heidelberg. The campus does not have a large population of Muslims, so she works to educate the community on Islam. “Our religion is completely different than how it is portrayed on the Internet,” she says. “I’m here to paint a better picture and present it in a better way.”
Shopaholic
Maram says she has so many clothes that she couldn’t bring them all to Heidelberg with her. Her parents sent her two big bags of clothes and advice to spend her money on things other than more clothing. “When I go shopping here, I give my credit card to my brother so I don’t buy anything I don’t need,” she laughs. “I would spend entire days at the mall if I could.”
World traveler
Maram has visited many countries around the world, including England, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Dubai, Jordan, Egypt … the list goes on and on and doesn’t even include the United States. “Ever since I got my passport, every birthday I travel somewhere,” she says. Being a world traveler is not a bad thing to have on a resumé for this future diplomat.