The Power of Perspective

Ferah Shaikh ’24 started at Rollins intending to study people and cultures as an anthropology major. She left with something closer to a mission: using her education to help people live better lives.

That mission first came into focus when she followed her curiosity instead of her original plan. Encouraged by her math professor, Zeynep Teymuroglu (Dr. Z), to pursue what she found intellectually engaging, Shaikh switched to mathematics—then added majors in philosophy and classical studies. Through student-faculty research, she worked with Dr. Z to apply mathematical models to understand and address opioid addiction and recovery.

“Through this project, I saw how the theoretical mathematics we learned in the classroom could be applied to study and address an issue affecting many people,” says Shaikh. “To this day, that project encourages me to reflect on how I can use my education to effect meaningful change.”

Shaikh, who was also a member of the Debate Team and the Student Government Association, copy editor of Brushing, and co-president of the Philosophy & Religion Club, continued to build on that mission with her undergraduate thesis, which explored the dignity of people with disabilities. She further developed it at the University of Cambridge, earning an MPhil in population health sciences, and continues to refine it as a second-year law student at the University of Chicago. Shaikh hasn’t decided which area of law she’ll pursue, but wherever she lands, she’ll be focused on improving lives.

“I see my legal education as a tool to help others,” she says, “and I carry that sense of responsibility with me as I continue my studies and eventually begin my legal career.”

Big-Picture Thinking

“Rollins taught me the value of taking an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving. Problems in the ‘real world’ are rarely confined to a single discipline. At the very least, learning to think at the intersection of various disciplines makes communication and collaboration with people from different fields easier and more effective. In turn, this skill makes developing durable solutions more likely.”

Freedom to Explore

“I triple-majored in philosophy, math, and classical studies, which taught me to approach complex questions from different perspectives. Philosophy taught me to question assumptions; mathematics strengthened my analytical and logical reasoning; and classical studies gave me a historical perspective on how societies and institutions evolve. Rollins made it possible to explore across these disciplines without feeling like I needed to justify those choices immediately. This approach ultimately shaped how I think about learning—not as a means to an end, but as something worth pursuing rigorously in its own right—and helped me develop the diligence and resilience to navigate the challenges of grad school.”

At Home in the Hot Seat

“Rollins’ small class sizes foster a culture of preparation and participation. From an early point in my education, I had opportunities to articulate my ideas, engage with different perspectives, and respond to counterarguments. Those experiences prepared me to contribute confidently in fast-paced environments, and those skills have been especially helpful during cold calls in law school.”

Mentors Who Care

“Faculty like art history professor Kimberly Dennis and philosophy professor Eric Smaw took the time to know me as an individual, encouraged my intellectual curiosity, and helped me recognize possibilities I might not have seen for myself. I hadn’t planned to attend Cambridge and likely wouldn’t have without Dr. Dennis’ suggestion and encouragement. I also wouldn’t have submitted my work to the International Association for Practical and Professional Ethics Conference if Dr. Smaw hadn’t encouraged me to pursue opportunities that challenged me to think critically and strengthen my professional writing. Long after graduation, I continue to see the impact of their guidance in the way I think, work, and pursue new opportunities.”

Global Connections

“At Cambridge, I drew on the interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving I learned at Rollins to examine how international health systems can better serve the people affected by them. This included comparing health-care systems in England and India and examining how socioeconomic disparities shape the level of health-care services that children with cerebral palsy receive in Australia.”

In Good Company

“I was fortunate to be awarded an Alfond Scholarship, and it was a privilege to graduate debt-free. Being an Alfond Scholar provided me with a built-in community throughout my four years. I was inspired by the people I met through the program and continue to be inspired by who they have become and what they have accomplished.”