About me
My name is Reem Tariq. I am 31-years old. My chief personality traits are – empathetic, ambitious, easygoing, elegant, kind, pragmatic, curious, and adventurous. My guiding principles in life - which come directly from my upbringing - are honesty, hard work, and kindness. Here are the 3 Fs that are central to my life – faith, family and function. In that order. The first two speak for themselves. By function, I mean one’s purpose in life. This purpose could be fulfilled through one’s career of choice or through a lifestyle. I have chosen to fulfill my purpose through a meaningful career that will allow me to build a legacy in environmental health. 
My strengths include creative thinking, problem-solving, building capacity, building meaningful relationships, and facilitating progress. Also, I can be tenacious when I want to be.  I never stay down for too long even after having taken WAY too many punches. My weaknesses include ruminating and feeling anxious when dealing with unfamiliar situations. I sometimes go through analysis-paralysis when the outcome a decision matters a lot to me.  
In my spare time, I enjoy cooking complex recipes and failing to get them right, going on esteemed hikes at National Parks, reading fantastical fiction and historical accounts, and writing poetry to make sense of it all.

Religiosity
I am moderately religious. During my early twenties, I practiced Islam as an inherited obligation; however, I have since then become more intentional about my faith. I prioritize learning about Islam, and I am looking to grow in grace albeit at my own pace. 

Cultural bent
I am a third-culture person. I was born and raised in Kuwait to Indian parents. I moved to the US during my formative years of late teenagerhood when I was still quite impressionable. I do not fully own any one cultural identity. It might be more accurate to describe me as a melting pot of the three cultures – Indian, American, and Middle-Eastern. 

Education
I completed my high-school in Kuwait. Eager to move out of my childhood home, I relocated to America at the cusp of adulthood to venture out on my own. Frolicking from one city to the next, I finally settled upon the idyllic rolling hills of Pullman, Washington to get my Bachelors in Genetics and Cell Biology at Washington State University. Upon graduating, I explored a spectrum of vocational experiences ranging from teaching at a local college of nursing in South India and corporate photography in Texas. I decided to enroll in graduate school at East Tennessee State University based on my quest for a meaningful career in Environmental Health Sciences. I do plan on going back to graduate school to get my Ph.D.   

Career
I am currently working for a non-profit in public health. As a Project Coordinator, my work is primarily focused on building programs and relationships with partners with the collective goal of providing a healthful environment for all. I enjoy working and see that as a central part of my being. Not sure if it’s a product of early-career optimism, but I have never felt sold on the idea of retirement.