Catchin' Up With a Cookie: Tala Alahmar

Tala Alahmar

2021 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2023 Graduate Scholar, Georgetown University

Introduction

Tala is currently pursuing an M.A. in Democracy & Governance at Georgetown University. As an immigrant from Syria, she is deeply passionate about diplomacy and human rights advocacy. Tala was involved in many student organizations and internship opportunities throughout her undergraduate journey. In 2021, while enrolled in community college, she served as the Student Representative on the Board of Directors for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, representing over 200,000 students. Most recently, she completed a project aiming to use AI to forecast risks to elections in democratic nations. Tala enjoys spending time with her cat, taking long walks, and trying new coffee shops.

What does being a Cooke Scholar mean to you?

Throughout my undergraduate journey, being a Cooke Scholar was my reminder that what I’m doing matters. Whenever I felt imposter syndrome or questioned my abilities, I reminded myself that I had the backing of an organization that saw my potential, believed in me, and decided to invest in my education and future.

A big part of being a Cookie is the community. This past August, I had the opportunity to attend Scholars Weekend for the first time and meet other Cookies! I was very nervous as it was the first JKC event I ever attended, but the warm welcome I received put me at ease from the moment I walked through the convention center doors. I walked away with a newfound family that weekend and was eager to give back to the JKC community. I like to describe the Cooke community as a cycle of learning, growing, and paying it forward.

Tell us about a memorable moment in undergrad or graduate school.

In my first semester at the University of Michigan, I went to the Michigan vs. Ohio State game, where we beat OSU in 2021 for the first time in years. I will admit that I’m not a huge football fan, but I have strong school pride. That was the first football game I ever attended, and I remember everyone running to the field after the game ended. It was such a cold and snowy day in Michigan, but the Big House was filled with people celebrating, including my friends and me. It was such a surreal experience. I’m sorry to all the OSU fans out there, and I won’t hold it against you.

What is ONE THING YOU DID TO HELP TRANSITION TO YOUR FIRST YEAR OUT OF COLLEGE?

I went right back to school! Partly because I was scared of going out into the real world but also because I wanted to deepen my understanding of the concepts I learned in my undergraduate classes. Right after I received my B.A., I started my M.A. program at Georgetown University. The most challenging part of my transition was finding internship and fellowship opportunities to gain practical experience. In the last year, I’ve received more rejections than ever before, but I kept reminding myself that the right opportunities would come along. I focused on expanding my network and talking to professionals doing the jobs I’m interested in. I continue to do so today, in preparation for the transition out of college when I graduate in May… unless I get scared again and decide to pursue another degree.

What was the last show you watched that you really enjoyed and highly recommended?

I just finished watching The Diplomat on Netflix. When I need a lighthearted show, I put on either Friends or Gilmore Girls. The last book I read that was not for school was Happy Place by Emily Henry, which I highly recommend to those who like fiction and romance. I’m currently reading Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer, and I can’t recommend it enough for those interested in policymaking and immigration.

If you were to create your own cookie, what would it consist of and what name would you give it?

I’m a proud cat mom, and I’m not embarrassed to admit I’m obsessed with my cat. I would like to create an edible cookie for cats infused with turkey and catnip, and I would name it after my cat: the Biscotti Speedway.