Faysal Hagi, '28

Hometown: Portland, ME
Languages: English
High School: Deering High School
Major: Neuroscience 
Minor: Global Health
Main Extracurricular Activities: Muslim Student Association, Firewall@Midd, ResLife, The Grille

Hello! My name is Faysal, but I usually go by Hagi. I’m from Portland, Maine studying Neuroscience with a minor in Global Health. Some of my interests/hobbies are watching movies (I have a LetterBoxd!), hanging out with friends, and traveling to new places. I wanted to become a student ambassador because I want to help prospective students learn more about Middlebury and help them in their college prospects process. Can’t wait to meet you and be a part of your college application journey!

What is your favorite study spot on campus?

My favorite study spot on campus is a little room in Davis Library on the main floor that no one really uses/knows about and I always go there, especially during exam week. But keep this between us! 

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self during the college search/application process?

A piece of advice I would give to my younger self to better have a Middlebury experience is that it’s okay to fail, but it’s not okay to live with a “what if?” What I mean by that is to not worry about the outcome of a grade you get in a class or a job position you don’t receive. What’s more important is to at least try to go for whatever you’re interested in or passionate about because you don’t want to look back and regret not trying at all. 

Why did you choose to attend Middlebury?

I chose to attend Middlebury because I wanted to experience a small, liberal arts education in a place where I could build a tight knit community. Even without a campus tour and only learning about Midd through research, I felt that Middlebury provided an experience that could help me grow not only as a student but also as a person.