Name: Omar Raddawi

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Activities at Princeton: Global Issues Forum Vice-President, Naacho, SVC ESL Tutor, Princeton Committee on Palestine

Before Princeton, I I rarely strayed from my comfort zone. I wanted to pursue things that came easily to me, namely politics and sociology for curriculars or community service and political groups for extracurriculars. By never really taking risks, I only reinforced my comfort in this limited realm of activities. I realized that not taking risks only perpetuated my aversion to risk.

I grew at Princeton by taking this risk to join a dance troupe and accepting the possibility of failure and the foreign. I now firmly believe that Naacho has been the most meaningful activity that I’ve done in college. It has been a productive outlet for my devotion - my passion. This is largely because it’s entirely different from everything else I do on campus, and in this way, it represents an escape from myself and my daily routine. I am proud of this risk that I have taken.

I supported “cross-pollination” by joining a South Asian Dance Troupe, even though I’m half-Latino/half-Arab. Even though I’m not Indian, my Indian dance Troupe, Naacho, has been an education in itself. I’ve stretched my limits in college by joining Naacho, a South Asian Dance Troupe. In high school, I never once exhibited skill nor interest in dance. Now, I’m a quasi-expert on regional dance styles, able to make the distinctions between modern and traditional Indian forms.

I learned that perhaps the best way to learn of my own capabilities is to stretch my limits by working on very diverse projects, thus obtaining a new skill-set, learning to work with as diverse a group of people as possible, and – most importantly – broadening my horizons by expanding upon budding interests.

After reflecting on my experience at Princeton, I have concluded that students should create a list of activities or subjects they are interested in, and then do something *not* on that list. It would not only be an exercise of understanding what you are and what you are not, but also discern what you could be. If you’re passionate about your interests, then of course continue to pursue those; but, I think students will also benefit greatly from taking on the challenge of a completely new, previously unexplored adventure and realize a new potential. That is how I see the correspondence between cross-pollination and grow.

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