Page 77 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2019

Stephen Azar, 17, is probably more aware of world events than most students his age. That’s because his parents, Rana and Dr. Nabil Azar, immigrated to the United States from Syria. Because of this background,
Stephen, a senior at St. Patrick High School, has an expanded world view which he supplements with reading and research.
STEPHEN
AZAR
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Stephen Azar
“We have some interesting discussions at home; my parents see things differently,” he says. “I really enjoy talking with my mom because she keeps up with our family members who are still in Syria. I pay attention to global affairs, national policy and politics.”
Stephen says his father, a hospitalist at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, is his hero and mentor. “He showed me a
letter from the parents of a patient whose life he saved,” Stephen said. “I realized he truly is a hero to that family, and it inspired me to go into the medical field.”
Although he doesn’t know what his specialty will be, Stephen feels certain at this point that he will have a medical
career. “I see my career path as college and medical school. I’m thinking of doing something with the brain, but I expect to have a better understanding and more experience to make the best decision,” he said.
His perfect 36 American College Test score assures him of acceptance in one of several undergraduate universities.
One of those options is the University of South Alabama, which has an early medical school program that interests him. The University of
Alabama at Birmingham and Baylor University are also
being considered. As a high school student, Stephen has spent time shadowing several local physicians, including an ophthalmologist, hospitalist and
pediatrician.
This Nation Honor Society
member has been involved with a long list of school and community activities. Asked to choose his favorite, he says it’s Mock Trial, which he’s partipated in for four years. “I love debating and arguing; it’s competitive and we’ve gone to the state contest each year,” he said. “I’ve considered getting a law degree too but not as a primary career.”
Acknowledging that he’s probably seen as someone who focuses on academics, Stephen says people might be surprised to learn that he likes watching sports and keeps up with
scores for various teams. “I like learning about many things,” he said.
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April 2019 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 77
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