About Naila Din
She/Her
Year:
Third Year
Major/Minor:
Microbiology & Human Biology, Minor in Global Health
Hometown:
Cary, North Carolina
Importance of My Identity
I am a Muslim, Pakistani women navigating the challenges of the lack of leadership representation Muslim students have on campus. I am incredibly honored to be an advocate for the Muslim and marginalized students on campus.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
"To raise concerns, you use your voice. But to create change, you need to use your hands."
Naila Din
About Naila Din's Quote
I have always been a believer that if you want something done, you need to do it yourself. You have the passion. You have the voice. You have the hands to create change. Life is an opportunity to speak up for what you believe in because no one else will have your personal drive.
NAILA'S
BACKGROUND
I was raised in a household dedicated to working hard to provide the basic necessities for my family. My mother is a cake decorator at Lowes Food, my father is an electrical technician for AT&T, and my step-father works two jobs. When I turned 16 years old, I began working as a cashier for Lowes Foods during the COVID-19 pandemic to start saving money for college because I knew my family could not afford to pay the tuition of three children to attend college. Since 16 years old, I have been a full-time student, a part-time employee, and actively involved in my community. I understand the struggles of simultaneously worrying about how I need to pay my bills while also studying for my course exam coming up. My dream is to attend medical school after graduating from NC State University, and given how expensive this road will be, I knew I had to take up a second job to begin saving money. I work as both a Cash Office Manager at Lowes Foods and a Barista at Starbucks so that I can work towards my goal of becoming a doctor.
I am passionate about medicine and advocacy on inequities that various communities face. My two passions merge together where I am an advocate on health disparities and community well-being. I am the founder and President of an NC State Student Organization called Students for Sensible Drug Policy, which advocates for increased education and awareness on safe/harmful drug use, as well as ways to include harm reduction strategies in communities. In Summer 2024, I became licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician for the state of North Carolina, and I was able to develop a personal understanding of the racial, socioeconomic, and regional discrepancies that communities face when receiving medical care. I am also a volunteer at the UNC Rex Hospital since 2023, which has been one of my most thrilling experiences because I meet new people every day, broaden my social awareness, and develop a deeper respect for those that undergo hardships, yet still have a passionate outlook on life.