Background

Organization	The University of Virginia
Professional Title	Second year undergraduate student
Bio and Background	My name is Lina Aniss, and I am a second-year student at the University of Virginia. As of right now, I am double majoring in Economics and Biology, with a strong passion for international medical aid. I hope that through my future career, whatever it is, I will be able to work towards bridging the healthcare accessibility gap in less fortunate countries, such as my own, Morocco, Outside of school, I love staying active and moving around. I enjoy walking, spending time with friends and family, and exploring my creative side through painting and drawing. I also LOVE to listen to music..my favorite artists right now are Gunna and Drake, but I also enjoy Summer Walker, SZA, and occasionally Arabic music like Haifa, Sherine, and Samira Said. Lastly, I am also a big fan of languages; as of right now, I can speak English, Arabic (Darija), and Spanish, but I am hoping to become fluent in many more (French, Russian, and Classical Arabic).
Why I am a Force for Health® Member...	I joined this network initially with the hopes of learning more about health literacy and how it can be improved through different intervention techniques. I was initially matched through my university’s IPP program after showing interest, and I am eager to participate in something I am also very passionate about. My role in this network is to bring more attention to it and hopefully expand it to the communities I am familiar with. I believe health literacy impacts everyone, which is why I think this program has so much potential on a much larger scale. I believe this program can benefit ALL communities and ALL people equally, which is something I would like to take part in and help grow.
How I use the Force for Health Network Tools	As a former track runner and gymnast in high school, I noticed a significant drop in my activity levels when I started college, especially while trying to balance my difficult classes. Since I’m not the biggest fan of my local gym—or, more specifically, seeing my peers all sweaty—I plan to use this app to discover new daily challenges I can do from home and also to track my daily steps and overall ensure I am staying active every day.
My inspiration	The person who inspires me most is my dad. After growing up on the streets his entire childhood and losing his mother at just 10 years old, my father accomplished what many couldn’t. From working as a waiter, janitor, busboy, and dishwasher to becoming one of the most respected members at the UAE embassy in DC, my father is truly one of the hardest-working people I will ever know. From first arriving in America with only $70 in his pocket and barely knowing a word of English, he built himself into a self-made businessman and an inspiration to our whole family. The best part of his journey isn’t just what he achieved but who he is. Despite all his hardships, my dad always had a smile on his face and treated everyone with respect and kindness. Whenever I face challenges, I think about his determination and remind myself that nothing is truly impossible. His story alone will always motivate me in life and remind me to stay grateful because no matter how little or how much I have; there will always be somebody with less, so it’s important to stay thankful for everything and give back to others as much as possible (all with a smile on your face)!
Location	Arlington, Virginia
What would you like people to know about your community?	I live in the NOVA area, about 5 minutes from DC. Something unique about my community is that it’s not very diverse, but it has a lot of different opportunities for everyone if taken advantage of. It is also very walkable which is something I value a lot.

My Citizenship Health Factors

Some of the factors that have been challenging for me have been...	One factor that has been challenging for me is staying active alongside school. I noticed that sometimes I value grades so much, to the point where I would feel guilty going on a walk or going to the gym before an exam, even if I have studied for weeks straight. Due to this, my goal for this upcoming semester is to find a more healthy balance, which I am trying to achieve by being more organized, tracking my fitness, and tracking the types of food I am consuming. I hope that towards the end of this semester, I will have found a more balanced approach to school and a healthy lifestyle without jeopardizing my grades.
It's important for me to be part of my community's health because...	It is important for me to be involved in my community’s health because I often feel it is a neglected area that many people overlook. I think this is important for me specifically because I do live in a very fortunate area, and have noticed that even though we do have endless resources and opportunities to improve health, not that many people take advantage of them. By participating in initiatives that hopefully promote community health, I hope to learn from others, reflect on my own habits, and contribute to the wellness of our whole community.
Some of the strength of my community health factors are:	I think one thing our community does well is accessibility. We have a wide range of gyms, wellness centers, nutritionists, classes, clubs, and various facilities, all aimed at improving our community’s health. I also believe our community is good at promoting healthy lifestyles, whether that is through social media, classes, friends, or other initiatives. For example, many of my friends are participants in either a fitness-related club (pilates, hiking, biking, running), or go to the gym..etc Something that makes me proud to be part of this community is the diversity of opportunities available to improve health. I genuinely believe that the Charlottesville area offers something for everyone regardless of interests, and if not, they make it very easy to start your own thing as well. This inclusivity makes it easy for individuals to find something that they like, which supports health factors in the long run, which is something not many communities have.
Some of the challenges in my community regarding certain health factors are:	I think one challenge my community faces regarding health factors is primarily mental health. I think even though the university offers many programs for psychological needs, outreach, and accessibility could be better. I know many individuals who do struggle mentally, I think the resources could deifnely be improved.
I believe I can help improve my community's health by...	I believe I can improve my community’s health by first starting with myself and being my own force for health. I think that once people see me become more aware of my health and how that impacts my life, it might spread to my peers.

General Information