The Peak

SFSS Profile: 20 questions with Ada Nadison

1. What is your favourite thing about SFU?

The community . . . . There’s this perception about university that it’s really scary and it’s hard to make new friends. I found when I got here it was really easy to make friends because [SFU has] a really good community.

2. What is your greatest achievement?

Probably winning [the SFSS] election for president. I was the student counsel president in high school and I really didn’t think I would do much after that, just because [anything bigger] seemed unattainable at that point in time. But . . . if you really want something there’s nothing to get in your way, you just need to work really hard for it.

3. Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

Graduated [and] hopefully starting my career. I’m completing a major in Criminology and I’m specializing in sex crimes and criminal profiling, so we’ll see where I go with that.

4. What is your guilty pleasure?

I like to buy bags and shoes. I probably have 60 or more bags, some of them I don’t even use and they’re still in the wrapping. I own 40 pairs of shoes and I only wear three of the most comfortable ones.

5. What was the last book you read?

My Psychology 102 textbook.

6. What was your most embarrassing moment?

I used to live in Saudi Arabia and all the women had to cover up so they all looked the same. When I was seven years old I went to a grocery store with my parents and I lost my mom. I was looking for her [but] everyone looked the same, so it was really hard to tell. When I thought I found my mom, I ran up to her and jumped on her and squeezed her. The lady turned around and pushed me off her and said, “get off me you rascal.” She pushed me to the ground, it was pretty mean and embarrassing.

7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Barcelona. I teach salsa dancing and I love music and dancing, it’s been a part of my life since I can remember.

8. What things make you nostalgic about the past?

You grow up and every year new songs come out. One year you’re driving in the car with your friends and the song comes on the radio and you remember that moment. There are a lot of songs that bring back different memories.

9. What are you most grateful for?

Having the best family anyone could ever ask for. [My mom and dad] work really hard to support [my sister and I] and I really appreciate that. They’ve always been supportive of what I want to do . . . They’re so encouraging and they work extra hard to make sure I am able to do it.

10. What is your biggest regret?

Never auditioning for plays. It’s always been something I wanted to do . . . I actually might try out for So You Think You Can Dance Canada or Canadian Idol.

11. What is your biggest fear?

Spiders and also going through life without close friends and family. No one wants to be alone, everyone wants to feel appreciated and loved.

12. If you could go back to a certain memory what would it be?

I like where my life is right now. If I could change it, I would like more time to do my own thing. Right now I’m so busy with school and SFSS politics. Little by little you realize there is less time and more responsibility.

13. What is a phrase that you overuse?

A saying that I go by is: a lot of people say that a leader is a person that can delegate things and can push people in the right direction and can control a group . . . I think a leader is the type of person who wants to encourage those around them. They have more of a charismatic, giving quality than that of an on-top bureaucratic person.

14. What is your biggest pet peeve?

Ignorance and disrespect. If you’re not a nice person, it bugs me. I just want people to be nice and respectful of each other.

15. What is the most important quality you look for in a person of the opposite sex?

I think what it comes down to is somebody who is honest with you, someone who can love you unconditionally, no matter what, and who will be supportive of you and who will still be there for you at your worst.

16. What is the worst date you’ve ever been on?

I went on a date with a guy and it was just a disaster from the beginning. He got us tickets to a play downtown. We had dinner and he ‘forgot his wallet.’ The play ended and he ran into his friend that he hadn’t seen in a while. He literally ditched me in Vancouver and I had to find my way home at three in the morning.

17. If you could choose five people to have an imaginary dinner with, who would be on the guest list?

Robert Downey Jr., Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, the Backstreet Boys, and my sister.

18. Who do you admire the most?

My dad . . . . It [was really tough getting the whole family over here from Saudi Arabia.] His whole life has revolved around making sure my mom and my sister and myself are happy and living well. He works all the time, and he never seems to be upset about it and I think that’s very admirable. He so selfless and that’s a quality I would like to have.

19. What is your life motto?

Don’t ever let other people’s perception of you hinder what you think you’re capable of doing. If you think you can do something, I think you can, it’s just a matter of putting the effort in to do it.

20. Finish this sentence: Student politics are . . .

Complicated.