Student Spotlight: Shaima Alraiy, College of Social and Behavior Science

What are some of the most useful lessons you've learned through paper reviews?

The paper review was a huge learning experience for me. The feedback I received from the Writing Center was significantly constructive and valuable.   It helped me better understand the use of the APA Style in a practical way through the suggestions and examples provided by the Writing Center Instructors. In some of my courses, I received minimal feedback from instructors but that was compensated by the feedback I received from the paper reviews. Through the feedback I received from the Writing Center, I was guided on how to find answers to my questions by always referring to the prompt of the assignment or discussion post. The suggestions of enhancing structure and using more formal and suitable words enhanced my language substantially. I have to admit that what I learned through the Writing Center paper review did not only enhance my work at Walden but also my writing for my work.

What does social change mean to you?

To start talking about social change, I would like to share an excerpt from my first discussion post in my current PhD program. "You changed my life." That was an honest statement an 11-year-old boy said to me in the closing ceremony of a project called "from Child to Child" that I was coordinating in sponsorship by UNICEF in 2006. That phrase made me speechless with no words to respond back. That phrase was ringing in my mind non-stop for a long time until it made me realize its meaning and the achievement behind it. I have not seen that child again, but I can never forget his words and smiling face. He made me realize that I can be of help, and I can be a change agent. He drafted my first rough goal in life which is to help children, who I believe are both current citizens and future leaders.

That was an introduction that I wrote in my first discussion post in my first course in this Ph.D. program. Social change, which is the main goal in all I do, is also the motive, which made me select Walden University. The reminder of social change in most of the assignments and discussion posts throughout the various courses made it part of my thinking and actions. As for my understanding of the meaning of social change, I do believe there is always a motive and a reason for a person to be a social change agent. That motive is what directs the person towards a goal that contributes to social change. The meaning of social change for me is what we do as individuals, groups, and organizations to create change that yields to positive social outcomes. 

Shaima is on the far right of this photo, wearing a black scarf

What social issues have you observed in your community, and how have you advocated for positive social change?

Children and women are the most vulnerable groups, who are mostly dealt with as secondary citizens in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region. The person I’ve become and what I achieved so far as a Middle Eastern woman is what I consider a great accomplishment. Going against the norms to achieve noble goals to contribute to social change was a struggle in a conservative society such as Yemen and the MENA region in general. However, I was able to harvest the fruits of my work when I saw the youth I supported come out of their shells and speak for themselves. With my determination and passion for change, I led national campaigns and programs contributing to the welfare and protection of children and young people.

I contributed to social change through the children/youth empowerment network that I initiated with my colleagues in Yemen, which I consider my life project. Some colleagues and I started this network with 4 teachers and 10 school students. We trained them on essential life skills and designing and managing community-service projects. The impact of this project was tremendous on the community and the youth as well. The outcomes of this project made me and my colleagues decide to continue and expand the project. Now the network operates in ten cities with around 1500 youth and 600 teachers who work in community-services projects to support their communities. My colleagues and I (trainers, field coordinators, and mentors) are volunteers who made this network one of the biggest in the country. Some of these young people were selected to present their experience in international conferences and won in some other international competitions. I always see the youth transform when they go through an experience in which they design and lead initiatives themselves and contribute to social change. It is rewarding when some of these young people meet us and say “you changed our lives”!

What challenges have you encountered in your pursuit of social change? How have you overcome them?

In a developing country like Yemen, promoting rights sometimes is a challenge. Young people and children are merely passive listeners in the different settings, especially home and school. To convince parents, school teachers and admins, as well as children themselves, that they can be social change agents was not an easy task at all. However, after they see the impact of such an experience on their children’s personalities, they usually support the concept significantly.

How has your education at Walden influenced how you think about social change?

The reminder of social change in all discussion posts and assignments always fosters what I am doing and motivates me to keep moving forward. Moreover, Walden emphasized the importance of research as a key element in social change.

What are your strengths in writing? What are your greatest challenges?

I think my strength in writing is that I often capture the whole picture when I write about something. However, the fact that English is my second language makes it sometimes hard to be very expressive and formal.

Can you describe one writing project or assignment that meant a lot to you in some way?

Actually, they were three assignments: the final projects of the grant writing course, the annotated bibliography of the Research Theory Course, and the Public Policy analysis and planning course.  The final project of the public policy course was a great exercise of how to analyze and plan for a public policy in reality. I am grateful for this exercise as I was able to analyze a very important policy, which is Family Reunification in Canada. It was a great learning experience as I was able to analyze and provide solution options based on literature, similar policies, and commendable practices. This paper was appreciated by the MP office of the area where I live.   

What would you like other Walden students to know? What advice can you give them as they begin, continue, or close out their degree programs?

In the two residencies I attended, I advised some colleagues I met to utilize the services available for them such as the Writing Center, the library, and the Research Center. I was surprised to know that many of them have not used the services of the Writing Center yet and some of them did not know about it. I immediately showed them some papers that I got reviewed by the writing Center and how the paper was enhanced by the feedback of the reviewer. I would also advise them to look for the motive that makes them want to contribute to social change. That motive will guide every aspect in their PhD Program and how they apply the knowledge and skills they gain to contribute to the social change of the discipline they are interested in.

What writers do you admire, and what is it about their writing that interests you?

Zayd Mutee Dammaj is my favorite writer. He is a Yemeni writer whose novels were appreciated and won prizes internationally. When I read Dammaj, I feel like I am one of the characters, living their experiences. The way he narrates the story is very engaging, making the reader visualize what is happening.

What inspires you to write?

At the personal level, writing is like a close friend with whom I can say what I feel without restraints. Whenever I see something wrong that needs to be addressed or something rightful that needs to be shared, I start writing. This writing can be in different forms, such as a post in Facebook, a study report, a proposal to a funder, etc. In the course of my career, I contributed to different studies such as the “Country Profile on the Situation of Children in Yemen,” “Regional Analysis on the Situation of Violence against Children in Schools in Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen,” a study entirely led by adolescents on the situation of children using the “Child-led Data Collection” methodology, national quantitative and qualitative assessment research on “Violence against children in Schools,” qualitative research on “Child Marriage, Armed Children and Children in Conflict with the Law in Yemen.” I also drafted grant proposals to different funders such as the EU, Oxfam, World Bank, MEPI, UNICEF, Save the Children, and different embassies such as the US and the Netherlands Embassies.

The Walden Writing Center provides information and assistance to students with services like live chat, webinars, course visits, paper reviews, podcasts, modules, and the writing center webpages. Through these services they provide students assistance with APA, scholarly writing, and help students gain skills and confidence to enhance their scholarly work.