- Hometown:
- Chicago, IL
Laila (she/her) intends to major in international studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. She eagerly anticipates joining the Hamilton Lugar School Living and Learning Community, where she hopes to meet students with intense global interests similar to her own. Her proudest achievement is being the Battalion Commander of her high school’s JROTC program, a role that allowed her to create events through which the cadets gave back to the community. During JROTC summer camp, Laila rappelled off a 40-foot tower! Among Laila’s favorite books are N. K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows. Traveling to Morocco planted the seeds for her desire to spend her life living abroad, learning about different cultures. More specifically, Laila would like to study in Egypt or Jordan, places steeped in thousands of years of history. She lives by the advice that while one cannot control other people’s actions, one can always control one’s responses to them: “What is in my control is whether I remain respectful or lower myself, thus disrespecting both myself and others.” In the Wells Scholars Program, Laila will hold the Heim-Hutton and Hutton scholarships.