Humans of USU: Grad student has 14 siblings, dreams of teaching

The Utah Statesman interviewed Adam Alrowaiti, a first-semester graduate student in political science from Saudi Arabia.

Utah Statesman: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Adam Airowaiti: I’m planning to be in the academic field, especially a university professor in my country. … That’s my ultimate dream: to be a professor in my country. Since I was in elementary school that was my goal.

US: What is your favorite autumn activity?

AA: I just like to take advantage of the rest of the good weather before winter so I like to go hiking, walking. Especially here in Logan, I hear that they have very good hiking trails, very beautiful canyons so I’d like to go. Actually, I’m going this Sunday with a couple friends; we are going to some cave here in Logan Canyon.

US: Where’s your favorite place to eat in Logan?

AA: So far I think my favorite place to eat in Logan is the Golden Corral. I like the food there, plenty of food, a lot of people we can talk with so it’s my favorite place.

US: What is your favorite thing about yourself?

AA: My favorite thing in myself is that I love my family and my family loves me. Especially my mom, she considers me her favorite so … I am proud that I am her favorite son.

US: What gives you confidence?

AA: It gives me more confidence, especially when dealing with people that I know, that I love to be social with people. Especially that I have many brothers and sisters back in Saudi Arabia so I have many nieces and many nephews. They are together almost 50 of them, 50 nephews and nieces. We are a big family so I like to go out with them and talk with them, know about their problems, about their issues so when I talk with people I just discover them from this experience.

US: How many brothers and sisters do you have?

AA: We are in total 15. I’m number 12.

US: What’s it like being a middle child in a family of 14 siblings?

AA: Actually because I’m the middle … I can learn a lot from my older brothers and older sisters and I can teach my younger brothers and my only younger sister. I can teach them and I can learn from the olders, so that’s really cool.

US: What is the best part about being in Logan?

AA: The best part of Logan so far is the campus. So like, today, I have no classes, I have nothing, but I just sit out and read my book and listen to music and talk with some people if I have the chance.

US: What was the best book you read recently?

AA: Just last week I finished a book, it’s called Carnage and Culture. My major is political science so I’m reading this book and I have learned a lot from this book, lots of history. It’s mainly about the interaction between the west and the east but I have learned about the United States especially during the recent history.

US: What is your spirit animal?

AA: I’ve always considered my spirit animal is a lion because the lion takes very deep care of its family, so I consider myself like that. I’m very careful about my family, especially since my father passed away seven years ago. I consider myself as a father for my younger brothers and my younger sister, so that’s why.