What’s your name and what are you studying?
My name is Marseen Khoury. I have been dancing since I was child. Now I am majoring in Dance in The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (JAMD). I finished my second year successfully and I still have two more years.
What’s your age?
I am 24 years old
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and life?
I come from a family of five, my eldest sister, my older brother, my mom, dad and me. I grew up and studied in Eilaboun. After my high school graduation, I moved to Haifa, to try new experiences in life that are outside the village and to try to be more independent. During all this period I have always been active and a volunteer in different local and social programs and activities. In addition, I have been dancing and played oud for a while, and two years ago I started my BA at JAMD.
How did you end up applying for the Galilee scholarship program?
I heard about the scholarship from a friend of mine from the village on Facebook. The scholarship helped me a lot financially, especially during the pandemic. In addition, it opened new doors for me to meet new people, especially during the protests that happened, while standing beside one another.
Would you have been able to afford going to university if it was not for this scholarship?
It would not have.
What for you are the key benefit of the program?
Awareness of my Palestinian heritage and identity and having an alternative experience that is similar to me as a person when the academic experience gives the feeling that I am a stranger.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your day to day studies?
As a student I face many struggles, such as my uni being far from where I am living. There are many long hours of studying, traffics, preparing food, also trying to find a job that fits my studying schedule.
What are your goals in life and what would you like to do after your studies?
My goal in life is to be more and more active in my society, whether throughout dance or whatever I am going to study after my BA. To try not to only take but also to give even more back. I am a swimming instructor, so one of the goals that I want to achieve is to become a hydrotherapist. After I finish my BA in dance I want to work in this field, work to produce an idea that will resonate with our people in a beautiful artistic way and to try to give to the society as much as possible.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement to date?
One of my greatest achievement is deciding to major in the
dance field and study it.
Finally….tell us your favourites:
Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Film: Capernahum Produced by Nadine Labaki.
Band/artist: Le Trio Joubran.
One more thing: Would you like to give a message to our supporters?
Thank you for the opportunity!
