Carine Bou-Abboud
Hometown: Beckley, W.Va.
Major: Neuroscience
Year in School: Freshman
Favorite Book: Nancy Drew Files 118: Trouble at Lake Tahoe by Carolyn Keene
What Carine loves about UHC
Free coffee.
About Carine
I was born in June of 1987. I have been told I was loud, friendly, and had more hair than three average people combined. Not much has changed, except for my discovery of volume-control hair products. My toddler years were spent in big cities like Las Vegas and Pittsburgh, but for the rest of my childhood, I lived in a small town. Everyone was on a first-name basis. My best friends lived only a couple houses down. The entire population attended the annual dance recital, piano recital, awards ceremony, etc., in the only auditorium around. The town was so small that I had an hour commute to a “respectable” high school. (And by respectable I mean through my parent’s eyes.)
Although I loved every bit of it, I knew I needed something different. I wanted exposure to a life completely unlike the one I grew up in. I wanted to be in the “real world” and experience life in a big city. I wanted to make my own titles, not just “Nicole’s eldest daughter” or “Cynthia’s sister.” I wanted more opportunities, or even just to know that I could find a group somewhere representing an interest of mine. So when college visiting time approached, I knew I had my chance. The first university I visited was the University of Pittsburgh. It was a gorgeous Saturday, and the second my tour was over I marched off to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and filled out an application in two minutes. Quick, easy, and painless. Eleven months later, I became a freshman here at the University of Pittsburgh.
Surprisingly, I had no trouble adjusting to the big-city life. Pitt is located in Oakland, with downtown Pittsburgh only a short free bus ride away. With that transition taken care of, which at the time had been my biggest concern, I quickly observed that everything I desired in college was available. Pitt was covered in opportunities and various organizations, and downtown Pittsburgh offered all kinds of diverse cultural exposure. I had found exactly what I wanted. I now know the next three years, just like my first year, will be filled with millions of unique experiences. And I can’t wait.