Welcome back to another episode of The Defying All Odds Podcast!In the confines of Butler Library, we had the chance to interview Iman Kanooz, a rising junior at Columbia University majoring in political science and american studies while being pre-law and a full time content creator. Iman is an extraordinary individual whose rise from rural, agrarian community of just 500 members in central Appalachia to the elite world of Columbia University is testament to great grit and perseverance. Iman describes her unique experience as being "the only Muslim, Pakistani child growing up in a conservative environment", explaining her methods to counteract cultural isolation through the acquisition of skills to navigate her identity and confidently "break the mold." Her unflinching desire to escape her hometown town was the catalyst, allowing her to gain entry to Columbia without the advantage of academic preparation, thereby demonstrating that raw will and dedication are essential to achieve extraordinary possibilities.Beyond academia, Iman exhibits excellence as a content creator, having successfully balanced the challenges of intensive academic obligations with major collaborations with well-known big players like Chegg, Amazon, Uber, and Microsoft. She explains how integrating her professional goals with her academic workload and three internships has contributed to strengthening her organizational skills and time management, thus proving her exceptional ability to function well under pressure. In addition, Iman stresses the importance of integrity in her work, explaining how she ensures creative authenticity in her collaborations with brands and highlights the importance of authenticity throughout her work. She freely describes an important moment of personal accomplishment: her decision to switch from a pre-med course of study, an intensely long-held familial expectation, to pursue the world of pre-law and Political Science, in which she immediately stood out. This courageous decision to take the path of her genuine passion, despite the challenges entailed in deviating from her family's long-standing heritage of medicine, eventually developed into one of the most rewarding events of her life. Iman's story is an inspiring testimonial to her ideology of breaking limitations and converting the skepticism of others into fuel for her accomplishments. Her ability to succeed in multiple areas—ranging from her academic pursuits to her self-created work as a hip-hop dancer and online content creator—exemplifies her tireless drive and inspiring commitment to quality in all endeavors. Additionally, she shares important insights on succeeding in the challenging academic environment of Columbia, explaining how competition is an influential motivator and how the acceptance of challenges leads her over the brink into new extremes. Iman passionately expresses her credo of giving 100% to any endeavor, driven by her unique ability to translate others' skepticism into personal motivation. Her approach to juggling multiple internships and tasks, along with a full course schedule, is an exemplary demonstration of her mastery of time and underlines the essence of giving first consideration to personal authenticity in any endeavor. Iman's story invites listeners to embrace their passions, overcome obstacles with the transformation of their own possibilities, and maintain an indomitable will towards their goals.🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories! 🔔Iman KanoozEmail: imankanooz@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/imankanooz/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imaaaaannnnnnnnnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iman-kanooz-1788191a1/As always, thank you for listening in and be sure to check out The Defying All Odds Podcast On YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and contact us via email. LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thedefyingalloddspodcast