FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com may 7, 2015 • The Queens Courier 29 SCOTT BARON’S STAR OF QUENS Souha Ltifi President QCC Business Society Background: Souha Ltifi, 39, currently lives in Elmhurst but came into the United States from Tunisia in 1999. Fascinated by American culture and music, Ltifi came to the country for a better life and a chance to enjoy freedoms that were forbidden to her as a woman in Tunisia, where her younger brothers were allowed to play outside and ride a bike but she wasn’t. She speaks Arabic, French and English and is now married and the mother of two children, ages 9 and 5 months. Occupation: Ltifi is currently a full-time student in her final semester of Queensborough Community College studying business administration, but she has worked a number of jobs to support herself, including busing tables at a restaurant, driving an ice cream van, and counting prescription medication as a pharmacy technician. She will be transferring to Queens College following her graduation. Community Involvement: Ltifi became president of the Business Society after being encouraged to apply for the position by professor and mentor Linda Meltzer. Greatest Achievement: “When I came here, for a whole week I didn’t know where I was sleeping. I slept in the airport for a couple of days, Astoria Park for a couple of nights. I didn’t know the language, didn’t know anybody. I never thought one day that I would be a student, that someone would be interviewing me like this. I feel very proud of myself. I didn’t speak the language, but now I’m sitting in a student’s desk and I understand and I get A’s and B’s.” Biggest Challenge: “Balancing between study and home. It’s really hard to balance having kids and doing schoolwork, I have to do homework together with my son. I have to be mother, wife and student at the same time.” Inspiration: Ltifi had to work to support her four younger siblings while they pursued an education, and she is the last one to finish up her degree. She was motivated to work toward her own education after each of her siblings found success in their respective fields, and she says that her biggest inspiration is to make her family proud, especially her 9-year-old son. “I want them to be proud of me, how I did,” Ltifi said. “It’s not easy to come here and advance and study. I want him to use me as inspiration, and finish school and be a good citizen. BY ALINA SURIEL brought to you by SCOTT BARON & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorneys & Counselors at Law 1-866-WAS-HURT (866) 927-4878 718.738.9800 star OF queens Celebrate 5,000 Years of Chinese Culture Roger Pena and George Wei will lecture on China’s 5,000-year-old culture, one of the most ancient in the world. Topics to be covered include the following: - the essence of Chinese traditional culture - the significance of the Year of the Sheep - Chinese history, including the Tang Dynasty - martial arts, tai chi and dance - herbal cures and acupuncture Light refreshments will be served. Seating is limited; first come, first served. Admission is free. www.queenslibrary.org This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Douglaston-Little Neck Library. Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library system. 13445-4/15 Friday, May 8 4:00 p.m. Douglaston-Little Neck 249-01 Northern Boulevard 718-225-8414 Train: LIRR / Bus: Q12, N20, N21 Library Hours Mon./Thur. 12-8 Tues. 1-6 Wed. /Fri. 10-6 Sat./Sun. closed Admission is free. Space is limited. www.queenslibrary.org This program is sponsored by the Friends of the East Elmhurst Library. Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library system. 13523-4/15 QUEENS LIBRARY Enrich Your Life® presents Beautiful Potted Plants for Mother’s Day Are you looking for the “perfect” Mother’s Day gift? Consider a beautifully wrapped plant from the Friends of East Elmhurst Library potted plant sale! Both indoor and outdoor varieties will be available. Come early for a good selection! Library Hours Mon./Thur. 12-8 Tues. 1-6 Wed. /Fri. 10-6 Sat./Sun. closed Friday, May 8 11:00 a.m. East Elmhurst 95-06 Astoria Boulevard 718-424-2619 Bus: Q19, Q49, Q72
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