Student spotlight: Interdisciplinary Major Amina Darabie

February 19, 2024 - Patti McDonald

When Amina Darabie initially came to Michigan State University as a first-year student, she was not too sure what to expect from college classes and did not declare a major at first.  

“When I first came to MSU, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” Darabie said. “When I settled in, chose my major, and explored my passions, things started to click.”  

Darabie said she was inspired to declare Interdisciplinary Studies as her major after she attended her first college class, which happened to be with her eventual mentor, Associate Professor, and Associate Director of the Center for Integrative Studies at MSU, Dr. Eddie Boucher. 

“My very first day of college was Dr. Boucher’s first day at MSU too,” she said. “I took his Integrative Studies in Social Science 210 class: Society and the Individual. For the first time in an academic class, we weren’t just talking about things at the surface level. We're talking about deeper applied theories, and the mechanisms responsible for the workings of the world, and I was just like ‘oh, my God, okay, this is it. This is what I thought college would be like.” 

Darabie said she chose to major in Interdisciplinary Studies because the major allows her to focus on her research while she studies diverse topics.  

“For me, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies is a way to obtain a research degree while exploring multiple areas of study, preparing myself for graduate study” she said.  

According to Darabie, Boucher’s classes also inspired her newfound passion: documentary filmmaking. 

Two years ago, Amina created a documentary for Boucher’s ISS 315 class. Her film, “Spiritual Girl in a Material World” won first place at the MSU Integrative Studies in Social Science Film Festival in 2022. 

“Dr. Boucher’s ISS class opened this whole world of digital storytelling, videography, and documentaries to me,” she said. “I had no idea that it would be such passion. For all of the research I conduct moving forward, I plan to make it into a film or digital story because that's the most accessible way to spread information and not just to keep it inside of academia. Sharing it with a public audience has the greatest potential for meaningful education.” 

Since Amina’s first day at MSU, she’s immersed herself within the CIS and the university community as a whole. She currently works with Dr. Boucher as a program assistant for the study abroad program within the CIS, held annually at the Institute of Crafts and Design in Jaipur, India.  

Darabie completed her first study abroad in the summer of 2022, studying Arabic in Amman, Jordan. She said her first study abroad trip inspired her desire to create more diverse experiences for students while they study abroad.  

“I noticed that some of my peers weren't fully engaging with the culture we were in,” she said. “After returning, I also noticed posters promoting programs to countries in South Asia or the Middle East, had stereotypical images. These images I saw didn’t capture the true essence of the cultures that I had experienced myself.” 

Darabie and Boucher collaborate closely with the craft communications team at the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, giving Amina the opportunity to share her love of digital storytelling with students in India. 

“I was inspired to start working with Dr. Boucher as a program assistant for the study abroad program in India and we ran that first program last summer,” Darabie said. “Summer 2024 will be our next iteration and we are focusing on how we can prepare students for a well-rounded cultural exchange experience. We're focused on developing a partnership with the Indian Institute of Craft and Design in Jaipur, India.” 

Amina also minors in Graphic Design and helps the CIS create graphic assets for various programs and events. She is now in her last semester as an undergraduate student and said her college career has come full circle. Amina currently works as a resident assistant in the dorms at Shaw Hall, helping students navigate their way around MSU. 

“Now, I get to connect with other students and help them figure out their way around campus,” she said. “As an RA, I stay up to date on resources clubs and events so if a student has a question, I can help them. I love being a mentor for others and helping them with whatever they are going through, even if a good conversation is all they need.” 

Boucher said he is impressed with Amina and her progress and is excited to see what she accomplishes in the future.  

“Amina has grown so much since that first day of class,” he said. “She is an exemplary student and I have been lucky enough to have her in class. She goes beyond what is asked of her and she has a bright future ahead of her.”