Waqarun Rashid '09 will be delivering the student address at the 116th Commencement Exercises at Saint Anselm College this spring, the Crier has learned.

"I was in shock," Rashid, a biochemistry major from Salem, N.H., said, adding that the realization "hasn't hit yet."

Rashid was one of several seniors who submitted draft speeches to a committee for review and selection. She was informed of the selection on Monday morning via a telephone call from Fr. Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B, president of Saint Anselm. Along with her, Notre Dame theology professor and Saint Anselm scholar, Lawrence Cunningham the commencement speaker will be delivering the main addresses.

"My speech is about my experiences at Saint Anselm," she said, explaining that her story is unique, but the "general application of principles" is remains relevant to the entire college's community.

"I heard that there were excellent students [who also submitted speeches]," she said. "To be chosen among those students is an honor."

Rashid said that during her time here she has learned "what it means to be a Pakistani in an American setting, a Muslim at a [Catholic] college."

The lessons, however, were not easily learned.

"It was a struggle that I have overcome since freshman year," she said. But through Humanities especially, as well as theology and philosophy classes, she was able to understand and engage her own culture. She was asked to use her life experiences in ways that she did not expect as a science major.

"I was able to share that because it is in an academic setting," she said. "I am asked to use my culture, my religion, my upbringing."

Although she has taken just shy of a dozen lab science courses, Rashid expected her entire focus would be in math and science. Now, she says it was in Humanities that she learned about herself. She calls the liberal arts "a full rounded education," and says it has prepared her for post-graduation plans.

Having dedicated her senior year research to src kinase, a gene involved in breast cancer, and last summer to work at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Rashid plans to attend the University of Rochester medical school for a doctorate in biochemistry. She looks forward to continuing research with type two diabetes, as well as HIV.

"I can say now, four years after, I know I am a well rounded person," she said. "I reaffirmed myself."

After another week of classes and a week of exams, Rashid says she will have a week of practice and public speaking lessons from the college's best. In the final week between exams and commencement, she expects to come to terms with the excitement.

"I'm just very blessed to have this opportunity," she said.