Link to Article on The Covington News
By Olivia Sayer
Huda Asker stands with her parents after learning she was top-10 in her class. (Photo Courtesy/Huda Asker)
As a child, Huda Asker sat on her mom’s lap as she read her a book by Dr. Seuss. The story was titled “Are You My Mother,” and Asker would consistently laugh at the way her mom emphasized certain words on the pages.
“My love of reading kind of tied into my love for learning,” Asker said. “I was such an eager child, and I would constantly read books and ask questions.”
Now, Asker is less than a month from graduating as salutatorian of Newton High School. Her scholastic journey was one that began all those years ago, reading with her mother.
“She loved that book,” Asker’s mom Ifrah Yassin said. “She used to hug me and kiss me and was so happy. And she’d say, ‘Mama, I’m glad you are my mother.”’
Yassin realized her daughter’s potential when she was two-years old. While most children spend their time playing dress up, Asker was indulged in books while sporting a more mature look.
“When she was young, she would always like to dress nice,” Yassin said. “She always liked to wear high heels; she used to wear a nice dress.”
Asker’s desire for academic excellence was instilled in her early on. However, while success in the classroom was important, Asker preferred to look at the bigger picture.
“My family does value good grades,” Asker said. “That’s something that we were taught from a young age, coming from a not so rich background. Education is a tool for you to increase your status and get a good income.”
Asker would not be in the position she is today without a multitude of people supporting her. None are bigger than her parents, however, who prioritized being present in her life.
“I always was involved with her education,” Yassin said. “Go and have lunch with her, show her I care. “That’s how I feel like she became where she’s at because I was really there for her. When she was having an issue with work, I was always there. When she felt a little overwhelmed, I was there for her.”
After graduating, Asker will attend Georgia State University to pursue a degree in biology. Following her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend medical school. Asker aspires to work in the medical field, where she can positively impact other people’s lives.
“In middle school, I wanted to become a medical researcher,” Asker said. “My reasoning was I don’t want to help one person at a time, like a doctor. I want to help hundreds at a time by
finding a cure or something. As I got older, I realized you can be a doctor, as well as doing research on this side. And I think I would love the patient interactions as a doctor and just working to save actual peoples’ lives.”
Asker’s generosity and eagerness to go above and beyond is why her mom believes she will excel at anything she sets her mind to.
“She’s a person who’s willing to go higher,” Yassin said. “Do the best she can in her life and even help the community, help the neighbors. Help not only her education, but help the community, her friends at school, her classmates.”