From first-generation American to first-generation college student, junior, Samantha Jarbou quickly climbed the ranks to become student government president.
“My parents actually immigrated here from Iraq,” Jarbou said. With no more than a high school diploma, Samantha Jarbou’s parents raised her and her two siblings in Clio, Michigan. “Growing up in a middle eastern household, family always came first,” Jarbou said. “They’re (parents) very supportive,” Sarah Jarbou, Samantha Jarbou’s sister, said. Detailing how their proud mother recorded Samantha Jarbou’s inauguration. At every event Samantha Jarbou has participated in, her family is not far behind.
When her sister became student government president, Sarah Jarbou wasn’t surprised, “She’s always been in student council.” Although proud, Samantha Jarbou’s family was not surprised by her becoming student government president. Samantha Jarbou has “always enjoyed” advocacy and “being an amplifying voice” for her peers. In the middle of her freshman year, she became a senator in the student government. After that, she became director of academic affairs as the first person in that position. Even though Samantha Jarbou acquired the position of student government president, she said she feels the same passion driving her no matter what position she has gained.
“She’s on the ball… she’s very good at getting things done, she understands her role,” Julie Snyder, Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, said. Snyder’s first impression of Samantha Jarbou was “that she was very committed and very loyal and thoughtful.” When Samantha Jarbou was a senator, she hosted the “first-generation panel” to assist first-generation students coming to the University of Michigan-Flint.
Snyder’s opinion still stands. She said that Samantha Jarbou’s leadership style makes her a “great listener” and that she knows her role “is working in the best interest of students.”
Avery Hambleton, director of marketing and communications for student government, has known Samantha Jarbou since elementary school. Seeing Samantha Jarbou involved in student council when they were younger made it less shocking for Hambleton when Samantha Jarbou joined the student government. Hambleton has worked closely with Samantha Jarbou on social media engagement and has noticed an increase in student interest in student government. When asked which areas Samantha Jarbou needs improvement, Hambleton quickly responded, “I don’t think she needs to improve anything… plain and simple.” Hambleton exemplified Samantha Jarbou’s campus reach as she “somehow knows everybody” and is “always on campus.”
With growing concerns from the student body in relation to the closure of the pool in the Harding Mott University Center and the lack of food options in the University Pavilion, Samantha Jarbou and student government have taken note of the concern and are trying to “do anything to improve student life here.” Such as possibly acquiring food trucks on campus to accommodate less food options in the University Pavilion.
Faced with all this, Samantha Jarbou said her greatest obstacle is “expecting perfection.” She said that her directors, senators and herself are still college students. “People have a life outside of an organization,” Samantha Jarbou said. Which she considers when planning events or working with directors and senators personally.
When Samantha Jarbou was the director of academic affairs, she worked “a lot with academic advising” and led the academic advising forum. Before the end of her presidency, Samantha Jarbou’s main goal is to find solutions to the feedback she received from the academic advising forum. Working closely with the current director of academic affairs, Karmarea Johnson, they are “trying to create tangible solutions” while also collaborating with the provost.
When asked what Samantha Jarbou wished the student body knew about her, she replied, “That I’m very… compassionate, but it almost causes people to take a little advantage of that.” She said that if a senator or director needs time to study for an important exam, she is “very understanding.” But when it becomes “overused,” it then turns into “taking advantage of kindness.” Sarah Jarbou made similar comments, saying that her sister is “a big softy” and that she may “look intimidating” but that she “listens to you and gives you advice.”
After her presidency, Samantha Jarbou plans to apply to medical school, as medicine has been a “passion” of hers. She is a premed student at the University of Michigan-Flint and is “especially interested in orthopedics.”
