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WRITER: Gayle Romasanta EMAIL:collegelife@modbee.com PHONE: (415) 794-3975
PHOTO BY COREY STUBER
Mariam Salameh, California State University, Stanislaus’ Associated Students Inc. president and CEO is one busy young woman. Born and raised in Modesto, Fall 2013 marked her first semester taking on the leadership position. Along with her 30 hours a week minimum on the job, she’s also a peer advisor for the CSU Stanislaus College of Business. She’s also a full-time public administration graduate student. “It’s a lot,” Salameh says. “But I love what I do, but it’s hard, I’m not going to lie,” she adds. Honest and hardworking, her outlook on living life fully is refreshing. “There’s not enough time in your life — you have to live in the moment and can’t waste it,” she says when asked about her attitude toward her full schedule. Salameh attended Grace M. Davis High School in Modesto, graduating in 2009. She was an undergraduate at CSU Stanislaus and loved her experience there so much, she enrolled into the three-year public administration graduate program. “A lot of people say I’m mature for my age,” the 22-year-old Salameh says. “I’m the oldest of four children. My parents worked so hard to put a roof over my head, which made me so driven and goal oriented.” Salameh is the first to graduate college in her family. Her parents, her sources of inspiration, and immigrants from Palestine, instilled strong values about education early on for her and her siblings. They stressed throughout Salameh’s childhood that getting an education was always worth the hard work. Salameh, whose optimism is infectious, offers sage advice to those students going through difficult times in their educational career. “I just want to advise students to never give up. If you think you can’t do it, it will get better,” she says. Life, though sometimes challenging, always gets better with a focus and goals Salameh passionately believes. Salameh has been part of the CSU Stanislaus leadership for longer than her semester as president. Her first years as an undergraduate, she was a volunteer member of the Warrior Squad, organizing large student spirit events. During her third year, she was elected as ASI board of director of diversity. Her fourth year, she was elected ASI vice president. After reflecting on her years of service at CSU Stanislaus, Salameh decided to run for president and endured a threeweek election campaign. The CSU Stanislaus community appreciates her years of service and most recently gave her touching, positive feedback after a speech she made at President Sheley’s inauguration. Salameh’s full schedule hardly allows time for her to think about how well she’s doing in everything she does. The positive comments she received helped her slow down and digest that she was making a difference in her community. As for Salameh’s plans for down time outside of CSU Stanislaus, she’s learning to carve some space for herself. “My family is proud and encouraging of me, but I always get reminded to have a mental break,” Salameh says. She doesn’t say she is taking a break anytime soon, but laughs that she’s trying to. #collegelife
MARIAM SALAMEH STUDENT LEADER AND STRONG SUPPORTER OF CAMPUS PRIDE AND SPIRIT