Alert: June 8, 2023

June 8, 2023

Please be advised that on Thursday June 8, all classes will be remote. Employees are to work remotely. Essential personnel should report to work as required by their supervisor.

https://alerts.monmouth.edu/alert/628

Last Updated: 6/8/2023, 2:38 PM

Close Close

Abdelmoneim, Omar

Interview date: December 6, 2020
Interviewee: Omar Abdelmoneim
Interviewer: Vincent Sauchelli
Transcriber/Summarizer: Vincent Sauchelli, Monmouth University Student

00:03 Lead 

  • Interviewer introduces the project 

00:55 Narrator introduces himself 

  • Narrator provides a brief, basic background of himself  

01:40 What year are you in at Monmouth, what is your degree? 

  • Health studies major, technically a senior, this is sixth year in college 

02:40 What was the most shocking or surprising aspect about pursuing your degree? 

  • Always wanted to work in medical field so was not really shocked  
  • Learned how to believe in himself pursuing this degree as well as his capabilities 

03:00 So you’ve learned a bit about yourself here at Monmouth along with health studies? 

  • He learned about his capabilities and not to doubt himself and to challenge himself to want more out of himself 

03:40 What do you like most about pursuing your degree? 

  • Money and benefits is an aspect, but being able to help people is what matters the most 

04:30 What do you like least about pursuing your degree? 

  • The tediousness of the degree and the amount of work required  

05:00 If you were in charge of the program would you change anything? 

  • Would require less of a focus on the seminar and more on internship and hands-on experience 

06:10 Have you been a student at Monmouth since you were a freshman? 

Transferred to Monmouth from Brookdale Community College 

06:40 What was it like being a student at Brookdale compared to now at Monmouth? 

  • You do not get the “college experience” at a school like Brookdale 
  • Living on campus, getting to know roommates, Greek life and clubs 
  • Brookdale was depressing, like an extension of high school in regard to the atmosphere 

08:15 When you came to Monmouth did you get involved in Greek life, clubs, extracurriculars? 

  • Started extracurriculars, wish he got here sooner but he chose to stay behind for other people 
  • Greek life was suspended so he could not experience Greek life as much as he wanted to 
  • Not much time to join clubs with the amount of work but got to participate in some extracurriculars  

09:55 How did Brookdale prepare you to be successful at Monmouth? 

  • Did not care much about studying at Brookdale, like in high school, did not do much work and was failing classes at first 
  • Brookdale did not set him up for anything but allowed him to learn how to take school more seriously,  
  • He found desire to keep pushing within himself 

11:45 What made you want to move on from Brookdale to Monmouth? 

  • There was a mix of motivation 
  • Mostly his family, they are all educated with degrees, as well as gaining more knowledge 

13:50 Do you have any younger siblings that have been inspired by you going to college? 

  • Little brothers look up to him but are on their own paths 
  • His little sister sees how seriously he takes school, she is motivated by his work ethic to become a doctor too 
  • This is incentive for him to keep pushing 

15:38 What do you think it will mean to your family to see you graduate college? 

  • Two of his cousins are doctors, other family members work in finance 
  • It is not an easy accomplishment becoming a doctor and this will make his family proud of him, especially his mother, which will make him proud as well 

17:30 How many credits did you have when you came to Monmouth or what academic year were you in? 

  • Had sixty credits, technically going into junior year 
  • Was unsure of what he wanted to do at Brookdale, psychology, business, computer science, decided on biology but could not handle it 
  • Ended up becoming health studies major and it worked out for him 

18:45 How did you find your way to health studies? What led you there and convinced you that it was for you? 

  • Always wanted to do something health related 
  • Keeping the goal of helping people in mind 
  • Health studies was an easier option on his stress levels and mental health 

20:10 It might be safe to say it spoke to you more? 

  • Became accustomed to the health studies major quickly 

20:37 What made you choose to come to Monmouth as opposed to another institution? 

  • It was mainly friends that attracted him to Monmouth 
  • Saw his friends loving the university 
  • Close to home, nice balance close to home and meeting new people from different places 

21:50 So you seem like you have had a pretty good experience at Monmouth? 

  • So far, it has been awesome 

21:57 Has Monmouth lived up to expectations, not lived up to expectations, or been something different from what you expected? 

  • Expectations for Monmouth were high 
  • Wanted to have the college experience but unfortunately came a little too late 
  • Could not dorm, people already had groups, it was hard to meet people and go out, this was a bit of a letdown that could have made his experience better 

23:11 What would you tell students as to why they should come to Monmouth? 

  • People should follow their heart 
  • College is a once in a lifetime experience, hopes that people understand this and they make the most of it 
  • Emphasized that with the experience, school work is just as important 

25:00 That is definitely a good message to give to people. 

  • We have one life, one college experience, people have to do it the right way, you make lifelong friends while at college 
  • Experience is the most important aspect that progresses people in life 

26:10 Have you ever lived on campus, close by, or commuted from home? 

  • Lived off campus, nearby in Deal 
  • Did not have someone behind him telling him what to do, had to learn how to be more responsible but it was necessary 

27:15 You lived by Monmouth your whole time as a student here? 

  • Lived by Monmouth for one year 
  • Felt like he could not afford living near campus, could not find people to live with 

27:55 What has it been like commuting from home? How is that different from living nearby? 

  • It was easier living by school, student center and library were close by and more accessible, commuting from home made these resources farther away 
  • Was always in the student center, studying and getting work done 

29:19 Would you say you have a preference between living nearby or at home and why is your preference what you prefer? 

  • Would prefer to live near campus 
  • Always had a place to stay near school, but did not want to feel like a burden to people 
  • It was easier living on his own and having access to school resources 

30:21 How did the schedule change affect you from Brookdale to Monmouth? Easy or difficult? And was there anything you had to drastically change once coming to Monmouth? 

  • Felt like teachers at Brookdale were not challenging him, they did not take things seriously 
  • Brookdale was super easy but needed more of a challenge 
  • Monmouth was more of a challenge but also a bit complicated, it was a big adjustment to get used to  

32:00 How do professors at Monmouth compare to those you describe from Brookdale? 

  • Professors at Monmouth took their jobs more seriously 
  • Enjoyed being with professors who are passionate about what their teaching 
  • Recalls how a chemistry professor at Monmouth would always be happy to help, this pushed him further to take things seriously as he did not want to let professors down 

34:00 How many classes are you taking this semester? 

  • Due to less classes required, taking four classes now and four next semester 
  • Five classes can be a little rough, balancing work and maintaining grades 

34:52 How does your schedule right now compare to other schedules you’ve had at Monmouth? 

  • Usually took five classes in a semester, one time took six and it was too much 
  • Students should be full time, but take only what they could handle 

36:00 Have you taken summer or winter courses? How do those compare to a typical semester? 

  • Has taken summer classes, at most three 
  • Main difference is six weeks as opposed to fourteen, there is more work to do in less time 

37:00 Have you also had to balance working with school? If so, how and what kind of jobs? 

  • At first had a summer job as an ice cream man, made money to last throughout the school year 
  • Now had to balance boxing hobby, diet, and working in an old people’s home 
  • Boxing was a good distraction from stress, and working old people’s home is for experience in health studies 

39:30 How does the work you’re doing now fit your major and prepare you for your future? 

  • Job is to help people, these are not ordinary people, they have dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s 
  • This job is difficult but prepares him for the variety of people he will work with in a hospital 
  • This job teaches him to have patience by dealing with elderly people who have health conditions 

41:30 Do you plan on going on to further your education after Monmouth? 

  • Looking into medical programs outside the country 
  • Looking into physician’s assistant schools and nursing schools 
  • Going to med school requires big sacrifices and he willing to make them  

43:00 Where is Saint Kitts? How did you find interest in this place? 

  • Saint Kitts is in the Caribbean 
  • Cousins went to school there, they loved it, this relates to his ideology about the experience of school 

43:45 How has COVID affected your education at Monmouth University? 

  • At first he thought he would love taking class at home 
  • Being at home makes him lazy and distracted easily 
  • Needs to be present in class to learn best 

45:00 How has hands-on been affected by COVID? 

  • Hand-on learning such as labs are more difficult now 
  • You really need to be present in lab to learn best 
  • Sees his friends struggling with their labs 

45:50 What is most difficult about school during COVID? 

  • Distractions, there is so much going on 
  • Wants to spend time with family and does not want to miss out 

Page Break 

46:20 How do you cope with distractions? 

  • It is hard with the lack of resources such as the student center 
  • Will study with friend who live close by to campus but not so much to avoid getting sick 

47:15 Talking about pre-COVID times, what were some challenges then, and how did you cope with them? 

  • When he did not understand things he would freak out 
  • Sitting down with professor during office hours was helpful but cannot do that now 
  • Needs to be present and near the professor to learn better 

48:15 So you’re kind of at a disadvantage now? 

  • Yes, a big disadvantage, could get work done in the student center but distractions at home can be too much 

48:40 What would you say about the COVID protocol that has been implemented on campus? 

  • Likes how the President of Monmouth is taking the pandemic seriously 
  • Thinks he is doing a great job, as well as teachers who are teaching remotely 

49:40 Would you change anything about the protocol? 

  • No, reiterate how the President is doing a great job 
  • Closing down when necessary and keeping students in the loop 

50:00 Is there anything you would like to add that you forgot who felt was not addressed? 

50:30 Narrator adds his final remarks 

  • First, do not stay behind in life for other people, go to college for you 
  • Staying behind for ex-girlfriend and not getting college experience was not worth it in his opinion 

50:54 – 50:57 (Video Lag) 

  • When you are going to college, do it for you, other people will stay in your life if they are meant to 
  • Follow your heart and follow your dreams, let nothing or nobody hold you back, even if people mean the world to you 
  • Second, take every second to appreciate the university and its resources 
  • Professors, student centers, small college where it is easy to make friends who might last a lifetime 
  • Lastly, take college seriously, get work done then have fun 

52:30 Thank you to the Narrator 

  • Interviewer thanks narrator, on behalf of self, Oral History Independent Study and Monmouth Memories Oral History Program for time and effort today 
  • Narrator thanks interviewer for allowing him to participate 
  • Interviewer praises the great participant that the Narrator has been throughout the interview process

More Monmouth Memories from Students