Summer Intern Spotlight: Sarah Suleman
Hello! My name is Sarah Suleman and I am Asian American LEAD’s Summer 2024 Maryland Program Intern. I am a senior Public Policy student at the University of Maryland, College Park, graduating this Fall! In addition to studying Public Policy, I also have two minors in Asian American Studies and Nonprofit Leadership + Social Innovation. I am incredibly passionate about AALEAD’s work and am so grateful to have the opportunity to support their programs this summer.
As a Pakistani American born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, I have been surrounded by a diverse community my entire life. Growing up in my community, I always found comfort and connection with my peers who also came from immigrant families similar to mine. Despite being one of the few Asian American students in my schools, my family’s immigrant background allowed me to relate to the students around me.
This early exposure to people from so many different backgrounds also opened my eyes to the educational inequities in Maryland schools. I knew that even after graduating from Prince George’s County Public Schools, I would want to continue to support my community. This passion led me to study Public Policy at the University of Maryland (UMD), located in my home county. During my time at UMD, I became more aware of my own racial identity as a student at a predominately white institution. With the support of my peers, I co-founded the Asian American Policy Union (AAPU) at the School of Public Policy to build a supportive community for Asian American students in policy. The members of AAPU make me feel like I can accomplish anything. My experience with AAPU has further strengthened my belief about the importance of community.
Some AAPU board members and I leading a jeopardy game on AANHPI history at a conference hosted by UMD’s Asian American Student Union
When I first learned about AALEAD through a staff member at a previous internship, I was so excited to learn that an organization dedicated to empowering Asian American youth, from similar backgrounds as myself, existed. As the oldest of four children, coming from a low-income Asian American family, I know that I would have benefited greatly from AALEAD’s programs and mentorship in middle and high school. It is amazing that AALEAD can create a similar uplifting community for the youth as I have had the privilege to experience through the AANHPI community at UMD.
As I spend this summer engaging with the youth and learning more about developing and executing programs, I hope to use the skills I learn to further empower my community.