Bouzihay鈥檚 parents had always stressed to her and her siblings the importance of getting an education. They traveled from Morocco, a country in North Africa, to the United States as a young couple to provide a better life for themselves and the children they planned to someday have. From the start, they realized education would be the key to their children鈥檚 success.

鈥淕o to school, get an education, the more knowledge the better,鈥� Bouzihay recited. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 always been ingrained in my mind.鈥�

鈥業 had to do everything on my own鈥�

When Bouzihay completed her tenth-grade year at Nettleton High School, she made a decision that would put her educational pursuit into overdrive. She was accepted into and attended the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA) in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

鈥淸ASMSA] was really amazing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 got a lot of exposure to and preparation for college. In fact, I did my senior thesis on diabetic research here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in the chemistry department.鈥�

Once Bouzihay became a freshman at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, she was more than confident in her ability to succeed in higher education because of her pre-college experience at ASMSA. Bouzihay understood that she would encounter challenges that were unique to her, so she did everything in her power to ensure that none of those obstacles slowed her stride. 聽聽

鈥淚t was tough because I had to do everything on my own like explore, network, and figure out what I needed to do to become successful,鈥� Bouzihay said, 鈥渂ut I received endless support from my parents who continued to push me.鈥�

Finding her passion

While weaving her web of connections and opportunities, Bouzihay stumbled across a program that changed the course of her quest as a future scientific researcher. Although she鈥檇 enjoyed being a part of the Donaghey and Science Scholars programs at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, it was the National Model Arab League that resonated with her inner self.

The National Model Arab League is a student leadership development program designed to give students a taste of life as international diplomats. Once Bouzihay graduated from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with her bachelor鈥檚 in biology, she took her talents to the Clinton School of Public Service where she learned the ins and outs of diplomacy through public service.

Life in Dubai

Photo by Ben Krain — Photo composite of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock graduate student, Nora Bouzihay, who studied in Dubai

As a requirement of the master鈥檚 program at the Clinton School, Bouzihay was tasked with choosing an international location for her public service abroad. Bouzihay was cleared to study in Dubai and spent eight months working with the country鈥檚 U.S. Department of State and United Arab Emirates.

鈥淚 had to have emergency surgery,鈥� Bouzihay said. 鈥淚t got so bad that the doctor said if I didn’t have surgery right away I would die because of the rupture.鈥�

Bouzihay鈥檚 mother rushed to the Middle East to be by her daughter鈥檚 side and helped nurse Bouzihay back to health. Once Bouzihay was able to work, she did so non stop, so much so that she was asked to extend her semester-long stay in Dubai to work on other projects, as well as projects in Morocco.

This time allowed Bouzihay to reconnect with her roots and visit her family. Her grandmother in Morocco had fallen ill and was hospitalized, so Bouzihay felt joy, comfort, and security being by her side, helping care for her grandmother.

鈥淢y grandmother always told me to finish school,鈥� Bouzihay said. 鈥淪he wasn鈥檛 traditionally educated, but she was educated through life鈥檚 experiences. She never knew how to read and write, but she had wisdom.鈥�

Bouzihay鈥檚 grandmother passed away last spring, and to honor her legacy, Bouzihay dedicated her master鈥檚 degree to her.

Can鈥檛 stop, won鈥檛 stop

Following her experience in Dubai, Bouzihay was sure of what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Rather than becoming a medical doctor/biomedical researcher as she鈥檇 once imagined, Bouzihay longed to work with women and children in the Middle East and North Africa to create a pathway for their future.

To turn this dream into a reality, Bouzihay started the trek to obtaining her doctoral degree. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Education at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, while serving as a graduate assistant for undergraduate academic advising and working with first-generation college students and minorities.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a goal of mine to not stop until I get to the end,鈥� Bouzihay said. 鈥淚n the field that I want to work in, the more degrees, the more competitive you are. My parents sacrificed so much, so I can鈥檛 stop until I鈥檓 done.鈥�

Nowara Co.

Although Bouzihay has a load of responsibilities on her shoulders, she鈥檚 made room for one more. She recently launched her own hijab/scarf company, Nowara Co.聽Nowara, which means 鈥渇lower,鈥� was the nickname given to her by her grandmother. 聽

鈥淣owara Co. was a continuation of my grandmother鈥檚 legacy to instill in and empower young girls and women to embrace their natural [beauty],鈥� Bouzihay said.

For every three scarves Bouzihay鈥檚 company sells, one will go to a refugee in the Middle East. Although refugees receive, food, clothes, health supplies, and water, Bouzihay says they do not receive scarves.

Freedom in the hijab

About a year and half ago, Bouzihay committed to wearing the hijab daily. Although she was first uneasy of the looks and backlash she would receive from people outside of the Muslim faith, she felt fulfilled in making that decision and wanted other women to feel free and proud, just as she did, when wearing the scarf.