Hina Uddin
By Joan Frances –
Foster High School is home to approximately 1,500 students, and senior Hina Uddin is one of them. Academically challenging and fulfilling, this Texas recognized school has guided Hina to a path of success for the future. She has excelled in the arts, as well as focusing on acting and debate. With so many possibilities, Hina is looking forward to her final year of high school to be the most memorable.
Hina performing in Annie Get Your Gun at Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center (KVPAC). Photo by KVPAC.
Hina moved to Lamar Consolidated Independent School District in fifth grade with her mom, Tanveer Vaid, and sisters, Shirin and Hiba. She has been an actress all of her life participating in productions such as The Wizard of Oz, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Annie Get Your Gun. Since her freshman year, Hina has participated in Lincoln-Douglas debate, foreign extemporaneous speaking and oratory. When asked why she enjoys interpretation events, Hina replied, “Debate is fulfilling because it teaches someone to think on their feet, to answer a question that will make the most impact.”
Hina is the debate captain this year, as well as last year, and teaches novice students theory and rebuttal techniques that help them at the 15 debate tournaments they compete in throughout the school year. Hina believes that, “Being able to communicate is so difficult today. With social media, face-to-face conversation in an intelligent and open environment is not as common and practiced as 10 years ago.” Through her experience in tournaments and social interaction with teachers and friends, Hina is a leader in communication.
For the past four years, Hina has been a religious teacher for youth at Masjid Al-Aqsa and Masjid Hamza. She has also worked with the donation collection team and as a carnival and fair volunteer at the church. She has assisted the Rosenberg Rotary Club at the Fort Bend County Fair and Rosenberg nursing home. In the summer of 2013, Hina interned at Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center as an assistant director for The Pale Pink Dragon. This summer, she played Fiona in Shrek, The Musical. Hina has been a singer all of her life and enjoys painting, contemporary music and dancing. Hina also speaks four languages: English, Gujurati, Urdu and Hindi.
Hina is an accomplished debate team captain.
In a class of over 350 seniors, Hina is in the top 10 percent academically. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. As a junior, Hina placed second at the 4A University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Competition in Informative Extemporaneous Speaking and first at the UIL District for Informative Speaking and Lincoln- Douglas Debate. Furthermore, Hina placed in the top 32 at the Texas Forensic Association (TFA) state competition in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking and first in the National Forensic League South Texas District in original oratory. Hina also won the Texas Association of Public Transportation 11th grade division scholarship for writing a speech on bus safety. Her schedule as a senior this year consists of all Advanced Placement classes and Advanced Fine Art, and she is considering a future at Reed College in Portland, Oregon to study international relations.
Hina has a wonderful outlook on life and is always eager to help fellow students in academics and the arts. When asked what value she lives by, Hina answered, “Don’t miss out on any opportunity to experience life and learn from it, try everything and never regret it.”
Hina is already living her life to the fullest and never seems to waiver from her positive attitude and brilliant disposition. Her senior year will be her best because of her drive, ambition and experience. Best of luck this senior year, Hina, and may you accomplish all of your goals.