Mohammed Sulieman, or Mo, is a LaunchNW Promise Scholar and student at Washington State University (WSU). In this interview, we had a chance to explore Mo’s fascinating journey to higher education and his passion for all things edificial.

Samuel McLaughlin: Let’s start off a little easy. Can you tell me about yourself?

Mohammed Sulieman: My name is Mohammed Sulieman. I’m a freshman at WSU, studying architecture and minoring in interior design (hopefully).

How about a fun fact about yourself?

I love to play basketball. That’s my favorite sport. I speak 3 languages.

What are they?

Arabic, English. And then there’s a little bit of Spanish.

Oh my gosh, you’re a polyglot?

Yeah!

How did you get connected to LaunchNW?

Through my high school college/career counselor. They were saying, “It’s a great program that can help you and other low-income students with going to school financially. They’re able to help you pace along with your school so you’re able to accomplish that.”

And at that time, were you pretty set on going to college?

I wasn’t exactly sure I was going at that time because I still was needing money for school. But once I found there’s opportunity and how much they were offering, then I was fully, 100% dedicated.

You mentioned you’re studying architecture as your major and interior design as your minor?

Yeah, I might double major, but as of now, that’s how it is.

Tell me about the decision to do those two. What drove that for you?

As a kid growing up, I always loved interior design, creating new structures. Like, my parents would be gone for the weekend and sometimes I would rearrange the whole living room, move the couch by myself a little, just trying to find new designs.

I’ve always loved design in architecture and been fascinated by different designs of buildings and structures, as well as how they are made, the process through it.

How did your parents react when they came home to one of those redesigns?

Oh, they were just shocked every single time, like “Surprise!” The first time was the most memorable, but even now I remember almost every single time.

That’s so awesome. [Laughs]

And then maybe more of a scary question—I don’t like this question much myself—but where do you see yourself going in the future?

That is actually a really good question. I wanna graduate here within the next 3 or 4 years because I already did 2 years of Running Start at Eastern Washington University (EWU). So, hopefully I will graduate here with my undergrad degree and double major in interior design and architecture. After that, maybe pursuing my PhD. in another degree or something.

And what’s your longer-term goal careerwise? Interior designer?

Yeah. Interior Designer.

Okay, I will level with you. I know nothing about architecture, and I think I know even less about interior design. So, can you pitch it to me? What makes it exciting?

Just the creativity and how flexible you can be. You can come up with different designs.

Do you see it as more artistic or more mechanical? Or maybe a blend of the two?

I’d say mainly a little bit artistic. [It’s about] having a vision and being able to express your vision and put it into an environment. Say, you see an empty space, or you walk into a room. You try to create more of the space, utilizing the space.

What’s your favorite building that you’ve seen?

Oh! Oh, boy. I was gonna say the pyramids in Egypt, or the bridge by the Nile River in Sudan.

Maybe getting a bit more philosophical now. Why do you think education is important?

A world evolving without knowledge would be kind of left behind. For example, just these past few years from 2020 till now– if it wasn’t for knowledge or education, people would not know as much about what’s going on.

[By] evolving and getting your education you’re able to connect more with others and understand different points of view. Most of the conflict that’s going on is because of different points of view, and not understanding.

But with education you’re able to open your mind to learn new things. You see your point of view of everything, but you’re still able to learn new ideas, new concepts, and how to deal with different ideas while still keeping your values strong.

Do you see that kind of education happening at WSU?

For sure. For example: my SDC100 Class. We always have guest speakers from different places. It’s a mix. It’s a class full of 100 plus people, so it’s a mixture of all different types of material design, landscape architecture, construction, management architecture.

Different speakers come in every week, and you see everyone, no matter what their major is. For example, today we had a construction management lecture in interior design and people might assume, “Oh, no, they’re not connected with each other.” But everyone’s over here interested, taking notes throughout the whole class period. It’s a great learning environment and great for being open-minded, too.

I’m liking this perspective into a world I’m not really in. As an interior designer, what’s your pet peeve?

Not utilizing the space, even though people are able to.

How did the LaunchNW Promise Scholarship affect you?

Oh, it’s affected me big time. Before I wasn’t even able to register for classes because I had a hole in my account. So, I was stuck overthinking about finances.

I’m a first-generation student as well. I’m setting a role model for my cousins who, even though they’re interested in learning, just have less materials. They want to learn. They want to keep going, pursue their education even with the limited resources that they have, just because they see me learning, too.

How has that first-generation student journey been for you?

It’s been rough, but I’m grateful for my resources out here at WSU: being connected with the AASC, which is the African American Student Center, having Dr. Samuels as my mentor, Miriam Sylla, Chay– All the mentors over here have been great in all aspects, [even teaching me about] the outside life, balancing and managing your schedule, knowing how to be open-minded.

Any surprises going to college versus high school?

I went to high school; I went to Running Start. But this is a totally different experience because you’re living on your own and everything and the time is going by quick. You have to manage your time.

We haven’t talked much about who you are and what you do outside of classes. Can you share more about that?

Throughout high school, I was part of NHS (National Honor Society), and I played basketball and soccer through high school—but mainly basketball.

Now, I’m getting involved in the community out here. That’s been great. I received ‘Mentee of the Month’ for August and September. That was a great accomplishment [for me].

And the environment over here makes me feel welcome and more open about everything.

I’m curious about the mentoring you mentioned earlier. What made you choose to get mentored?

I’d seen an opportunity that was there. At first, I was really iffy about it, like “Yeah, I’m not sure if I really want to come out here and everything.”

But throughout high school and everything I’ve had multiple mentors like Jeff [Lenberger], Luis Vargas, Eric McClellan, Abdullahi Kuso.

So, I was like, “Okay, this is a new environment. I need mentors around, especially those that have already been in my footsteps.”

And it’s not just an older person. Students are the mentors, [too]. You can talk to them on any level, whether it’s personal, academic, or just day-to-day life. At this point, I don’t even call my mentors ‘mentors’, but ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters.’ It’s gotten to that level of closeness.

Now let’s finish on a fun question. Imagine that I’m one of those social media influencers and I’m coming up to you on the street, right? I have a phone, and I’m recording you.  I ask you, “What’s your hot take?”

Michael Jordan is the goat.

Is that a hot take?

Some people say LeBron, so. [Laughs]

What would you say a hot take is?

It would be an opinion you have that’s your truth, right? Something that a lot of folks might disagree with. And it could be about academics, interior design, food. For me, my hot take is I hate ranch. I think ranch is gross. That’s me.

Barbecue sauce is the best sauce.

Yes, yes! Agreed.

Cereal goes in first before the milk.

I think I’d agree with that. And if anybody disagrees, we’ll maybe just block them from the website.

Yeah, that’d be great.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I was gonna mention other organizations that’ve helped me throughout. NSBE, the National Society of Black Engineers; BMMAD (Black Men Making A Difference); ASD (African Student Diaspora). Those are all the organizations that’ve been helpful.

Amazing. A lot of shout outs! Thank you so much for your time, Mo.

Samuel McLaughlin is a Marketing and Communications Program Associate at LaunchNW.