1. DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Department of Psychology
2
Shaan Shahabuddin, M.A.
Psychology Instructor
Blinn College
April 25, 2016
The Honors College
M.D. Anderson Library
University of Houston
4333 University Drive, Room 212
Houston, TX 77204-2001
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter to enthusiastically endorse Ayesha Siddiqui’s application to The Honors College at
the University of Houston. I have known Ayesha well as we are personal acquaintances as well as we are
both members of the Pakistani Students Association at Texas A&M University. Ayesha is very
intelligent, dedicated, and has the work ethic to succeed and contribute to the success of your program.
My summary evaluation, detailed below, is that I strongly recommend Ayesha for admission to The
Honors College.
One of the joys of working with Ayesha is her overall personality. As a part-time instructor at Blinn
College, I interact with freshman on a regular basis as I meet with my students during office hours and
chat with them after class. I have always been surprised that Ayesha’s interpersonal and intrapersonal
skills surpass those of most freshman that I encounter. She initiates conversation with new people very
comfortably, she speaks with confidence, and she is able to engage others in her conversation with
relative ease. Most freshman that I have seen are timid when interacting with members from outside of
their social circle, but Ayesha feels comfortable venturing in an unknown environment.
In terms of intrapersonal characteristics, I believe that Ayesha has a very optimistic and blissful outlook
on her future. Psychologists refer to this concept as “optimism”, or as the ability to see a glass as “half
full” rather than “half empty”. Ayesha believes that there is a higher chance that more good events, rather
than bad events, are awaiting for her and the people that she cares about in the future. Sophomore-level
college students sometime undergo a phase where they tend to project their negative emotions onto a
dark, and uncertain future, however Ayesha looks forward to the upcoming years and believes that she
will be able to handle the struggles that await. With this attitude in mind, Ayesha views the positive
characteristics of each individual rather than their faults; she sees the good in people rather than the bad.
When interacting with others, she is the person responsible for infusing joy and energy into the
conversation.
Aside from her personality, I respect the fact that Ayesha has a strong passion of what she would like to
do in the future and she directs herself in this way. By having a conversation with Ayesha, one will
automatically realize that she is enthusiastic and passionate about two things: meeting and helping out
2. BRYAN CAMPUS, Modular Building 106
2423 Blinn Blvd Bryan, Texas 77805 979-209-8655 shaan.shahabuddin@blinn.edu
new people and traveling. On the many occasions that I have spoken with her, Ayesha has always
mentioned that she will make it a certainty to find a way to travel to different countries and interact with
new cultures. I know that when I was an undergraduate student, I was undergoing the exploration stage of
my life as I was trying to learn more about my interests, about my passions, my likes and dislikes. This
again surprises me that for an individual to be as young as she is, Ayesha is confident on what motivates
her and knows where she would like to be in the future. I think this is a very important skill that is either
not developed in most college students until their final years, or is not developed at all. If a person does
not know what motivates their desires, then they are likely to drift through life without a strong
“purpose”. For someone who knows exactly what provides them with internal motivation, they will soar
through life with high expectations and will try to pursue their dreams.
In summary, Ayesha has stood out during the short two-year period that I have known her at Texas A&M
University, in both her personality and her dedication towards her goals. She is intelligent, focused, and
has the work ethic to succeed in any career that she decides to pursue in the future. It is without hesitation
that I recommend Ayesha as a potential candidate to The Honors College at the University of Houston.
Thank you for the opportunity to describe my rationale for strongly supporting Ayesha’s application. I
will gladly provide you with any further information, if needed, by telephone, email, or correspondence.
Sincerely,
Shaan Shahabuddin, M.A.
Psychology Instructor
Blinn College
