If you follow the updates from the Honors Program, then you know our community is full of outstanding and hard-working students. One of these students is Zeeshan Muzammil, who served as an active member of the Honors community throughout his undergraduate career, up to his recent graduation. Zeeshan has served in many leadership positions, including as president of HSG for the 2022-2023 school year. I reached out to Zeeshan to ask him a few questions about his experience at DePaul and how the Honors Program will guide him in the future.
Can you say a little about yourself?
So, I’m a health science major and my goal is to attend medical school next year. I’m a big fan of sports, I like talking to people, I like trying out new restaurants–being a part of different cultures and traditions–and I like spending time with my friends and family.
In the Honors Program, I was an Honors Mentor, where I was able to mentor incoming freshmen and help them out with their classes as well as their experience in the Honors Program. Another position I served was as Social Co-Chair in the Honors Student Government. In that position, I would plan events to enhance the Honors community and bring people together. The last position I served in the Honors Program was as Honors President. I made sure that all the events that we were running–if it was social events, service events, or things going on in the newsletter– that everything was going smoothly, as well as making sure students were on the right path and making sure that our board made group decisions on what to do and what not to do to make sure that we can grow the Honors Program to even like a bigger level where we can bring in more students and make more students involved in the Honors community.
What brought you to DePaul and the Honors Program? What were you hoping to achieve as an Honors student?
Honestly for me, what brought me to DePaul was location. It was in a very good location in Lincoln Park and because I’m from Chicago I wanted to be not too far from my family, as well. There was a program that they have, the Rosalind Franklin Program, where you have the opportunity to go to medical school or any other type of grad school in healthcare from DePaul.
That really opened my eyes because I was interested in medicine and the Honors Program. What brought me to the Honors Program was the challenge that it brought and the small classroom sizes, and also that it was more discussion based. I think we as students forget about the fact that we’re grown enough to have discussions about topics that are difficult. The topics and courses that were offered in the Honors Program were very niche. I really liked the ability to have a discussion on that type of stuff.
Is there a specific Honors class or experience that feels most significant or memorable to you? Why?
It would be Honors 2 0 8, which is sociocultural inquiry.
And the reason I say that was because it opened my eyes about how many problems we have in the world, especially when it comes to healthcare disparities and how people don’t get the right type of care, generally because of their race or their gender or their identity or where they live.
A lot of people suffer and people keep suffering because it’s the cycle. And until we can stop that cycle, if there’s some change being done, the cycle will still continue and people will still suffer. So it was a really eye-opening class and, because I’m pursuing medicine, it makes me want to think about what I can do in the future to see if I can break the cycle or do anything to help out.
Have you seen the Honors Program change during your time as a student? If so, in what ways?
I came in as a student from COVID, so freshman year was fully online. The engagement wasn’t too bad, but it wasn’t anything great, just because we weren’t able to have events in person at all.
But as years went by, my sophomore year and my junior year, I saw a lot more freshmen being more involved in it and being a part of the events that were going on. What I also notice is that a lot of people after their freshman year just don’t stay as involved in the Honors Program.
What changes do you think the Honors Program can still make to enhance the student experience?
I think it would be to find ways where we can somehow include sophomores, juniors, and seniors and bring them into the Honors Program as well. As they become older, they have less interest in going to these events as compared to the freshmen. Maybe it’s having mandatory events or having talks or changes to the curriculum or having events–maybe like a panel where people that are juniors, sophomore, seniors can talk about their experiences.
I think that would enhance the student experience because it would be similar to the Honors Mentor, but because there’s no rigid curriculum, it’d be very loose and it would be an open discussion.
What inspired you to serve in Honors leadership? What have you gained from the different roles you’ve assumed?
It was my freshman year when I was a part of the Honors Student Government. I was just seeing how included I felt, and seeing how Kurt and Elizabeth [former HSG presidents] were making sure everyone was involved. I think it’s a great honor to be serving in the Honors Program, having that leadership where you’re able to bring people together is something that makes me happy. Seeing people happy makes me happy.
As college students, we have a very hard time, you know, getting from point A to point B, but once we’re there, we’re okay. What I’ve noticed as president and as an Honors Mentor is that once the people are able to communicate, we’re able to have a good time and make the most of what we have.
What are your plans from this point on? Do you think the Honors Program has prepared you for your future aspirations?
I’m blessed to say that I got accepted into the Rosalind Franklin Medical School, the Chicago Medical School, so I’m finishing school early this year. I just finished my junior year and I’m starting medical school this August.
I do fully believe that the Honors Program has prepared me for my future aspirations because it challenged me and made me think critically about deeper issues that I probably would not have thought of was I not in the Honors Program. For that I’m forever grateful, and for all the connections that I’ve made. The Honors Program has also helped me connect with people that are above me, are in Rosalind Franklin, and are at Chicago Medical School. And without those mentors that I’ve had, I probably would not have been able to be where I am today.
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