My name is Zaina Siyam, and I have a BA in Political Science, specializing in International Relations, and have recently graduated with an MA in International Human Rights Law, with a thesis on the Legal Construction of Nationalism and National Identity in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. You can access my thesis on:
Siyam, Z. (2021).Legal Construction of Nationalism and National Identity in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan [Master's Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1669
As a political science graduate, I have obtained skills in research, writing, presentation skills, and have been able to interact with people of different political, cultural, religious, and social statuses. This has helped me become able to deal with diversity. I enjoy learning about new cultures and becoming more aware of issues going on around the world. Being a law student, I have learned to think on my feet, I have also gained confidence in making legal and logical arguments and learned to use legal thought and procedures to make a point, explain an argument, or support my current stances. I have written countless academic papers throughout my years at university, and I have written many chapters and pieces that I hope to put together one day and publish.
I was brought up to be strong, persistent, and compassionate. I also grew up with a very wild imagination, and my parents encouraged me to express that through writing, so I used to write short stories and poetry and submit them to a magazine and managed to get published in a few issues. Getting that recognition at such a young age motivated me. So as a university student I took courses on research writing, analytical writing, creative writing, and persuasive writing. I attended workshops that taught me how to edit, write, and set a tone for my pieces.
One of my favorite projects was one I had to do for a creative writing course, in which we were tasked to write a children's book based on a mental health issue. So, I wrote a book about PTSD and tried to teach kids how to deal with it. I do not want to give away all the details because I would love to publish it one day...
During my university years, I freelanced for the Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) and Syria Resilience Consortium, in which I took on translation and transcription projects for annual reports on the Yemen Crisis, and Syrian Refugees Documentary.
Writing is not just a hobby it is my passion!