Dana Thabet: Bachelor of Arts, Law
Growing up in Syria, Dana Thabet was accustomed to the sound of gunfire, the sight of drones flying overhead, and the absence of her father, who had to leave the country to earn a living.
Just a decade or so later, she finds herself graduating from a Canadian university.
“I’m so grateful for my experience here, especially the people,” says Thabet. “The community and the professors were so supportive and I met my best friends here.”
Before attending university, Thabet considered becoming an actor. But she soon realized it wouldn’t provide the stability she wanted for her family.
“My parents sacrificed everything for us. My father was a doctor and my mother was a teacher. They gave that up to come here,” says Thabet, whose brother also attended Carleton. “It breaks my heart, seeing their whole life gone. So, it’s our turn.”
While at Carleton, Thabet appreciated the exposure she received to different types of law, which enabled her to discover her passion: wrongful convictions.
“I took two classes in wrongful conviction and learned how frequent it can be, as well as devastating and life-changing,” says Thabet. “It made me realize what’s wrong with the criminal law system.”
Next year, Thabet plans to delve more into the effect wrongful convictions have on women and their families.
“My plan after Carleton is to stay at Carleton to pursue my master’s degree and perhaps my PhD some day. I would love to teach here.”