Meet Muneezeh
Name: Muneezeh Kabir
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Major: English
Minor: Science, Technology, & Society
Favorite study spot on campus: The Six Pack (a group of six buildings that line the East Mall) Savanna, San Jacinto formal lounge
The Little Things
It’s the little things that make campus life so great. Whether it’s realizing your dorm’s daily special is your favorite food, feeling the light mist of a campus fountain on a hot day, or seeing a stranger smile at you on 21st, it’s life’s daily surprises that make every UT day a good day.
Who Can Complain?
[I chose to come to UT Austin because of] size and location—two of the main reasons people choose not to come here, ironically. But I think the hugeness is part of its charm. Cliché as it is, there really is something for everyone—academically, socially, or otherwise. And it’s Austin—who can complain? The city is rich with culture and life. (And as an added bonus for me, 3 hours from home—close enough to visit whenever and far enough to maintain a decent sense of isolation.)
What I think about…
What to wear/not to wear
You can’t go wrong with big t-shirts and comfortable flip flops. Other than the streets on Halloween, UT is the only place where orange is in year round!
Parking/transportation around campus
Never underestimate the power of the Forty Acres bus. The campus isn’t exactly small, and sometimes you need all the help you can get. It’s every Longhorn’s magic school bus.
Being a successful student
The most respectable thing you can do is pick a major/concentration in which you have genuine interest. What’s the point in majoring in Engineering or going Pre-Med just because it’s expected of you? The people who are best in their field are good at what they do because they love it, and getting good grades is easiest if you’re focused and motivated by your interest.
Faculty and staff interaction
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about UT is that its large size results in less individual attention, but I haven’t had any professor or TA (teaching assistant) who isn’t willing to take time outside of class to help me out. I once missed a TA section for ARC 308 and my TA was more than happy to meet me on West Mall, give me any handouts I didn’t already have, and answer questions about an upcoming quiz.
Choices
[The best thing that’s happened to me since coming to UT is] gaining the ability to make characteristic choices. Good choices are fine, bad choices can be learned from, but the biggest mistake is giving in to public perception.
Amazed by…
I live in San Jacinto Hall. Other than location (nobody wants to walk uphill towards civilization every day), you can’t really argue with private bathrooms and a general ambiance of hygiene. Must be the white walls, windows, and clean carpet.
But really, the best (and most surprising) part of San Jacinto is Cypress Bend, our basement eatery. You’d be amazed by its convenience and deliciousness—it really is a crime against the proverbial blandness of college dorm food!
More about Muneezeh
Background
I graduated from William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. I come from a Bangladeshi family. With a father in the oil industry, I’ve grown up anywhere and everywhere—California (north and south), Houston, and Kuwait.
Academic major
First semester of my senior year, I realized if I had to study one thing for 4 years (which, invariably, we all do) it could only be English. Reading books and writing essays seem irritating, difficult, and/or burdening to many, but they’re two things I happen to like doing. I don’t know—there’s something to be said about writers and their work. Half the time they don’t even know what’s between the lines of their own text on the pages, but it’s our job to unpack all that little by little.
Favorites
- Place to eat on or near campus: Which Wich, Amy’s Ice Cream, Cypress Bend
- Class (so far): E314L – Banned Books & Novel Ideas
- Books: Jude, the Obscure; Interpreter of Maladies; Lolita
- Movies: The Crucible; Donnie Darko; Live from Baghdad; Garden State
- Things about Austin: The E-Bus; downtown atmosphere; hole-in-the-wall-type restaurants
- Pastime/Recreational activity: Playing Scattergories with my girlfriends
Random thought
Fill in the blank: I can’t _____ without _____________.
I can’t eat fried foods without ranch dressing.
Send Muneezeh and e-mail at muneezeh.kabir@gmail.com.
Updated 20 February 2008
