When Laiba Siddique enrolled in UNC Greensboro, she was not only a new student, but a new resident of Greensboro and the United States. She immigrated with her family from Saudi Arabia in 2021 and was determined to finish her undergraduate degree despite the delay in her college plans. Nervous and feeling out-of-place with younger undergraduates, Siddique considered withdrawing, but soon received a boost of support from her mother Dr. Rabia Qindeel. 

“I enrolled in the School of Education,” Dr. Rabia said. “I told her, if I can do this, you can do this.” 

The mother-daughter team will graduate together this December, Laiba with her bachelor of fine arts in new media and design, Dr. Rabia with her masters in teacher education with a concentration in middle/secondary mathematics.  

A pivot for the professor 

Dr. Rabia holds a doctorate and post-doctoral degrees in physics and was formerly a university professor. Upon moving to Greensboro, she accepted a position as a math teacher at Eastern Guilford High School. 

Images courtesy of Laiba Siddique

“Math and physics are my passion, so I was excited to teach high school math,” Dr. Rabia says. “It was a challenge for me to pivot to high school students, so the program at UNCG in secondary math education appealed to me. I enrolled to help motivate my daughter, but I have learned so much.” 

Dr. Rabia credits the program with improving how she teaches and connects with her high school students.  

“The program taught me how to be more creative about the assignments, so that I can engage the students by making it fun or a game. It’s helped me teach the students that math can be fun when you learn how to play with mathematics as a language,” she says. 

Her advice to her students and her daughter: your mindset is everything. 

“If you think that it is difficult, it will be difficult. If you think you can do it, you will do it,” she says. “Training my students to believe that nothing is impossible in life helps them realize that they can achieve even the things that they find difficult.” 

Inspired by arts 

Laiba’s mother’s advice was particularly helpful when she felt out of place in her first classes in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. 

“I was the oldest in my class and I felt old,” Laiba says. “My mom reminded me that age is just a number. She said “Just go have fun! You can get your bachelor’s at any age. It’s not a thing.’”  

Despite a rocky start, Laiba took her mother’s support to heart, moving past her insecurities about joining the undergraduate program in studio art as an older student, and eventually finding her calling in the new media design concentration.  

“I love how diverse the program is. I’ve learned all kinds of art: sculpture, painting, photography and graphic animation. The professors teach skills step by step. You start with the basics, and then if you really like that one, you can take the second class, then the third class,” she says. 

She took her passion for the arts abroad in summer 2024, studying in Italy after receiving a Leigh Seager Scholarship in Art and Music. The scholarship’s namesake had a passion for art and music, and Laiba was honored to receive the opportunity to study art and immerse herself in Italian culture through the summer program. 

Laiba also became a graphic design intern at University Communications, immediately applying her skills on the job.   

“It’s been invaluable real-life work experience. Each day presents an opportunity to learn something new, from working within brand guidelines to the thrill of creating impactful designs,” she says. “This role not only hones my design skills but also provides me with a comprehensive understanding of various facets of the design industry, including printing, advertising, marketing, and more.” 

Laiba already has a job offer as a graphic designer and is considering other career opportunities ahead of graduation this December. She encourages students who don’t know what they want to do career-wise to consider the arts. 

“I want to tell everyone, especially those from my community that are scared to go into an arts field, that there are many career opportunities,” she says. “You’d be wise to go into the arts. There are so many things you can do: become an animator, an illustrator, a brand packaging manager.” 

And remember, she says, age, position in life, and your gender should not be a factor. She looks forward to accepting her diploma and also proudly watching her mother cross the stage to accept her master’s degree. 

“I hope all mothers who want to study and achieve new degrees will fulfill their dreams like my mom did,” she says. “Sharing this milestone with my mom, who is earning her master’s after already achieving a PhD and post-doctoral work, is truly special. Her dedication inspires me, and I hope it encourages other parents to pursue their dreams.” 

Written by Alice Manning Touchette 

Photography by Sean Norona 

CELEBRATE OUR GRADS!

Graduates and their families are encouraged to share their accomplishments on social media by tagging the University accounts and using the hashtags #UNCGGrad and #UNCGWay. Visit UNCG’s digital swag page for graduation-themed graphics, filters, and templates.

Mention @UNCG in celebratory posts on Instagram and X and @uncgreensboro on TikTok.