Name: Hadiya Swift

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

School: University of Cincinnati

Major: Insurance and Risk Management

What is your favorite movie?

Hadiya: I’m definitely a Comic Junkie, so anything Marvel related is a favorite of mine. My family got me into superheroes as a kid. It started with Iron Man, and everything else fell into place! I also love Robert Downey Jr., so any movies he’s in I love to watch.

What is the most annoying question that people ask you?

Hadiya: For some reason, people are always asking me where I’m from! A lot of my friends from school are from Africa, so I think because I hang out with them all of the time people think I’m from there too. I think another reason people ask me where I’m from is my name. My name, Hadiya, means gift in South African and Arabic. The real story behind my name is that my Mom was watching Oprah and a little girl was named Hadiya and she liked it!

What are you absolutely determined to do?

Hadiya: Be successful! Growing up, my family was never in the higher end of the economic spectrum. As a kid, I watched my mom work hard to feed my sister and I and give us a home. I work hard now so that I don’t have to experience the same hardships as my mom later.

What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

Hadiya: It makes me feel really good when others compliment me on my professionalism or my business skills in general. Sometimes I let my nerves get the best of me and don’t always present myself the way I want, so when I do I feel like I’m doing something right. I work really hard to ensure that I am doing the best that I can. I believe that these skills will help me in all aspects of my life.

What is something you will NEVER do again?

Hadiya: I love this question. A couple of weekends ago I went to King’s Island with my friends. Before we got there, my friends and I made a pact that we would ride every ride in the park. I had never gone on the Drop Tower before because I am absolutely terrified of it, so I was super nervous! Going up and not knowing when it’s going to drop is the worst part. I screamed so much! Once we got off the ride I looked at my friends and said, “Never again…” That is something I will NEVER do again!

Above: Hadiya with other UC students in the Business Fellows organization volunteering at the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati. The Business Fellows do a lot of team building, community service, and business prep events together.