NCC Helps Student Overcome Obstacles to Earn Paralegal Degree

Born in the United Arab Emirates, Northampton Community College (NCC) graduate, Hiba Zukimi, has had opportunities she didn’t think were possible. Standing only 2 feet, five inches tall, simple tasks for us, like walking, are challenging for her.   

“The doctors told my mother that I probably wouldn’t be able to walk, and here I am walking,” she said. “I’m very stubborn, I don’t take no for an answer. I always find solutions to challenges.” 

Zukimi’s Syrian parents decided they would move to the United States shortly after she was born with a rare form of a short stature condition. They believed living in America would give their daughter a better quality of life with more chances to succeed, she said.  

When she was 12, Zukimi moved to Allentown with her mother and sister who later became naturalized U.S. citizens. The girls were enrolled in the Allentown School District. 

“Over there, education is so hard to pursue, especially with the war,” she said.  The Syrian Civil War is an ongoing multi-sided conflict that began in 2011.  

Moving to the U.S. “was so worth it,” she said. “My favorite thing about the U.S. is the diversity. You can meet people from many different cultures who expand your world views.” 

After graduating from Dieruff High School, Zukimi was uncertain about her next steps. She wanted to go to college but didn’t have a specific major in mind. She chose NCC’s Bethlehem campus because it was the only community college in the area with onsite housing. She began her studies in the fall of 2018. 

Zukimi said she liked NCC and quickly made friends with the other women who lived in her hall and several resident assistants. She enjoyed relaxing in the lounge or the cafeteria. With her motorized wheelchair, she found it was easy to get around campus. 

“Everything was very accommodating,” she said. “The students and faculty were very understanding. Sometimes people underestimate me because of my size, but I’m capable of a lot more than people might think.” 

Unfortunately, however, toward the end of the first year, she started to have physical problems that made it difficult for her to keep up with her coursework. 

“When I’m not doing well physically, I also don’t do well mentally,” she said. “It was all a big change. I felt challenged by living in the dorm and attending classes on campus. I needed a break; I needed to clear my head.” 

Zukimi took a year off, taking time to decide what program she wanted to pursue. Then, feeling refreshed, she returned to school in the spring of 2021 to major in paralegal studies. This time, she decided to live at home and take advantage of online classes when possible.  

“The college atmosphere is truly unique,” she said. “Even though my classes were mostly online this time. It still felt like home.” 

While she could have finished the program in two years, she decided to study at a slower pace, taking two or three classes a semester. She graduated on this past winter with her associate’s degree in paralegal studies.  

“I wanted to give up many times,” she said. “But I knew going forward was worth it. On those unmotivated days, I thought if I kept delaying it, it would become harder, and opportunities wouldn’t be waiting for me if I didn’t finish.” 

She chose paralegal studies because she always wanted to do something involving investigation and critical thinking and thinks paralegals are like investigators for attorneys. 

Her favorite part of her education was an internship at North Penn Legal Services where she helped clients with housing issues. The internship was unpaid, but she received the Sharon S. Beales Alumni Association Internship Award to help cover living expenses. Her internship was overseen by one of her favorite professors, Amy VanVarick-Colarusso. 

“I like how she teaches. She is an inspiring professor and, in some ways, motivated me to keep going,” she said. “I had her for introduction to paralegal studies.” Zukimi’s favorite project was a mock trial in legal writing, taught by Professor David Gordon, where students played the roles of prosecuting and defense attorneys, with the professor being the judge.  

She credits her NCC experience for improving her self-understanding and managing multiple responsibilities better. It also taught her the importance of discipline for achieving her goals. Her only regret is not joining the choir or a club to take her mind off stressful things. 

“I became more productive and feel more confident and professional. NCC helped me develop and grow my communication, researching and writing skills,” she said. 

Zukimi hopes to get a job as a paralegal. She’d especially like to work with clients with immigration and Social Security issues. She hopes to eventually earn a bachelor’s degree. Someday, she might even attend law school.  

“I want to change something in the world or at least have an impact on people,” she said.