Born in Palestine, Layan immigrated to the United States at 7 years old. For the first four years, her interaction with the education system was passive and defined by a language deficiency that was overlooked by her teachers. After transferring to a new school in 5th grade, Layan was able to receive the help that she needed. And with a new supportive educational environment, Layan was able to grow and find a voice through literacy, a voice that she nurtured in order to advocate for others who go through the education system passively. At Yale, Layan hopes to double major in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration and Political Science while earning a concentration in Education Studies, in the hopes of working for the NAACP Legal and Educational Fund (LDF) one day and redefining the standards for education in the United States.
Leadership:
- Mayor’s Youth Commission
- CPS Student Advisory Board
- Helping Hands, President
