Feruza Ghias

“Teaching and travel ahead”

As a study abroad ambassador in the Student Success Center, Feruza Ghias took part in University of Washington Bothell sponsored trips to Kyrgyzstan and Italy. She may be headed abroad again: She was accepted to the Peace Corps and could go to Macedonia for two years.

“I love traveling. And I’d get to teach English — get teaching experience,” Ghias says. “I also want to show a good image of America abroad because America is good. It has been good for me,” says Ghias, whose family is from Afghanistan.

After graduating in June with degrees in community psychology and in society, ethics and human behavior, Ghias is thinking of taking a gap year before graduate school.

“But I don’t want an ordinary job,” she says. ”I have learned so much and have a passion for community service. I want to do something useful with my life.”

She’s already working to do just that. Over spring break this year, she took part in three of the four alternative service activities offered by UW Bothell. “I’ve tried to connect my education with things I do outside of school,” she says.

Ghias has also served as a peer instructor for first-year students, sharing stories from her four years on campus as a student.

“I teach them academic success strategy skills. I’ve learned a lot and gained a lot from my experience at the University, and I want to share that,” she says.

Looking forward, she is still not sure what will come next in her educational journey, but the courses she took at UW Bothell will give her options as she considers a master’s program. “I’m leaning toward teaching.”

Ghias says she truly appreciates being recognized in the Husky 100 for the things she has done so far. “It is a really nice feeling.”