LEWISTON — In some ways Hanan Ahmed, 17, is like a lot of other Lewiston High School students.

She plays field hockey and lacrosse. She’s a good student and is involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, mentoring a Longley Elementary School student.

But in some ways Ahmed stands out.

She’s co-president of the senior class, in the National Honor Society and a member of the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council.

Most recently, she was appointed as one of two student representatives to the Lewiston School Committee. She’s the first Somali student to be a student rep.

In the committee room, Ahmed has her own chair, desk and an official-looking plaque with her name on it. She’ll be there as the committee wrangles with the budget, listening to reports from the superintendent and principals.

Student representatives can’t vote but can offer input.

Ahmed agreed to serve at the suggestion of Principal Gus LeBlanc, who told her she’d represent a community that so far hadn’t been represented.

She’s happy to go first.

“I feel like I’m setting the stepping stone for letting others know it’s OK to close that bridge,” Ahmed said. She hopes she’s “making a connection for others to follow.”

Her mother, Zamzam Mohamud, who is active in the community, has encouraged her to get involved, even though her daughter has a busy schedule. When Ahmed told her mother she was too busy to take on another project, “I said, ‘you can add one more,'” Mohamud said.

Born in Somali, Ahmed immigrated to the United States when she was 8. In 2001 she moved from Atlanta to Lewiston.

She speaks Swahili and English. “I understand Somali, but I don’t speak it,” she said. “I came here knowing English.”
She attended Longley, Montello and Lewiston Middle School.

So far she’s learned about politics at the high school level.

Being a class officer “can be difficult,” she said. “You can’t please everyone. Some people want something; other people want something else.” Some students expect “a spectacular prom and graduation, but don’t want to do the fundraising. That’s the hard part.”

Ahmed is a Lewiston High promoter. “Some people look down on Lewiston High School, but we have a great educational system. Our kids are going to succeed. We’re going to make changes in the world. We also have amazing athletes.”

She brags that her high school has the Lewiston Regional Technical Center, offering courses most high-schoolers don’t have access to. She herself has taken engineering classes at the LRTC.

High school life is interesting, Ahmed said. “Every day is different.” The climate is friendly, she said. Some students are still getting used to different cultures in school, while many are accepting.

Many Somali students are doing very well. The ones who have been here for years are getting used to the new culture. “But the ones just coming have a long ways to go,” Ahmed said. In addition to learning their subjects, they have to get used to a different culture.

She represents her culture with her dress on some days, wearing a hijab, or head covering. Other days she doesn’t.

Ahmed explained she wears a head covering during Islamic holy days. Other than religious times, “I decide in the morning. I tell most people if I don’t do my hair, I throw it on,” she said with a grin.

Like other high school seniors, she’s is applying to colleges. Her choices include Dartmouth, Smith and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

She wants to major in biomedical engineering. “It’s engineering mixed with the medical field. You look at tissues, figure out diseases, medicine, and there’s a mechanic side to make things like prosthetic limbs and hearing aids. Things to help people.”

Hanan Ahmed is the first Somali student to be named as a student representative on the Lewiston School Committee.