Staff Spotlight: Samia Mehbub
Samia Mehbub, the writing lab specialist in SFSC’s Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC), graduated from SFSC in 2020 with an Associate in Arts. She was born in New York and has lived in Highlands County for 22 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in December 2024.
“I wanted to pursue English Literature, because I love to write and read other people’s writing,” she said. “Ever since I was young, I read several stories and novels and wrote in my journal every day. So, English Literature was a perfect major for me. It required that I write a lot of term papers. Others may find it daunting, but I considered it fun. That’s why my position as a writing specialist is a suitable job for me; I love anything that involves writing papers and writing in general.”
As a writing specialist, Mehbub proofreads student term papers and helps them correctly use Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) formatting and citation styles. “I help students with grammar, punctuation, structure, flow, organization, clarity, and their thesis,” she said. “Of course, I can’t write the paper for them, but I can give them the confidence and skills they need to be successful. They all have unique voices. I must let them discover that for themselves. Additionally, I can assist students with their creative writing assignments, crafting resumes, preparing for presentations, and exams like the PERT reading and writing test.”
Mehbub joined SFSC as an employee in September 2024. “When I was a student at SFSC, I used to go to the writing lab for help on my assignments and was inspired by the writing tutors and writing specialist, especially their patience, compassion, and dedication to helping students grow,” she said. “And I thought, ‘I want to do this job one day.’ So, I came back to SFSC, and it’s the perfect job for me while working toward my master’s degree in English Rhetoric and Composition from UCF. Dr. Keith Cavedo is my mentor, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. He motivates me to be greater and I aspire to be an English professor like him one day.”
Mehbub is working toward this degree because she wants to learn more about writing in a rhetorical aspect. She wants to upgrade her skills in critical thinking, written communication, oral communication, and research and apply them in her job as a writing specialist. After being awarded a master’s degree, she hopes to use this experience and knowledge to teach college-level writing courses.
Although journaling is Mehbub’s main outlet, she experiments with all kinds of writing — poetry, book reviews, essays, blogs, articles, and short stories. “I was featured and published in the literary magazines Word Gathering, Blue Minaret, and Turtle Way, and in the blogsites, Elephant Journal, Dumb Little Man, and the Mindful Word,” she said. “I usually like to integrate brain health in my writing, because I am aware that many students struggle with this daily, which affects their academics. Education is a priority; therefore, taking care of our mental health is important. I want to give students hope that they can heal and discover their fullest potential.
“I feel that Mindful Word is more spiritually connected to me,” she said. “I have a strong relationship and friendship with the editor there and she pushed me to grow as a writer in all areas of my life. I write about mindfulness – being more present – and about my meditation practices. I try to connect with my heart and mind, whether it’s writing, meditating, or listening to music. I want other people to focus on self-care, which connects with spirituality. If we’re spiritually low, we won’t feel physically well either.”
Currently, Mehbub is working on her debut novel and memoir. Her novel is about the mental health journey and transformation of two sisters who struggle but overcome their hardships. “One has bipolar disorder and the other has anxiety and depression,” she said. “It seems that so often these days, teens and young adults have mental health issues and I want to help them through my writing. I want to show how they can live with it and heal from it. In the novel, the sisters’ bond gets stronger as they heal.”
A close friend who had bipolar disorder inspired her to write about it. “The characters are similar to my friends,” she said. “I’m Bangladeshi-American, so I made the characters Bangledeshi as well. I wanted a kind of unique language in the story. I hope it inspires people to know that they’re not alone if they have mental health issues. Once I get it published, I want to spread the word.”
The book is titled, “Capable.” “I called it that because people are sometimes made to feel they’re not capable of doing something,” she said. “I’ve personally been bullied a lot as a teen and young adult, and I want people to know that other people’s thoughts and opinions don’t matter. It’s their own voice that they should listen to. Encouraging others gives them confidence to believe in themselves, that they are capable. Good teachers usually do that.”
As for Mehbub’s memoir, it’s called “Finding my Spark: A Memoir of Mental Health, Hope, and Healing.” It’s about how we can apply positive practices in our daily lives to recover and improve our mental health.
Mehbub was lauded early in life for her writing. When she was in ninth grade, she entered a Highlands News-Sun writing competition and won first place. Her essay was called “Freedom” and was about the Fourth of July. Today, she works for Harvard Review, a literary magazine at Harvard University, where she serves as transcript reader. “I regularly read and review short fiction submissions. It’s been a great opportunity to engage with a wide range of voices and styles and it inspires me to write my own short stories,” she said. It inspires her to write her own short stories. She was also the moderator of an anti-bullying page on Facebook and the founder of We as Words, a spoken word organization that promotes diversity and peace.
Mehbub was always encouraged to write by her parents and inspired by her grandparents. “My grandparents were scholars and professors, and they loved writing,” she said. “My grandfather on my mother’s side went to Oxford University and my grandfather on my father’s side went to Harvard University. They also taught as professors and were chancellors at Jahingirnargar University, a reputable university in Bangladesh. Writing is in my blood. In fact, one of my grandfathers was a prolific writer. Whenever he wrote my dad a letter, it would be pages and pages long. My dad always says that I got my love of writing from him.”
To be an English professor at a college or university is Mebub’s dream. She’d like to continue writing and assisting students who love to write. “I have so many students who write so well,” she said. “As I’ve helped them, I’ve seen them improve and it’s great to work with them.”
Her advice to students who feel that they don’t write well or are afraid to write: “Start where you’re at, keep practicing, and keep reading. The more we read, the better we can write. Find resources that will help you become a better writer. It may be an instructor, a friend, a website guide, or a video. It can even be your favorite book that will help you discover that you have your own unique voice. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I can be found at the TLC on the first floor of the Learning Resources Center (Building Y, Room 105) on the Highlands Campus. I’m available to assist students in person, via email, or through Zoom, on a weekday, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m.”
If you’d like to read short stories or essays Mehbub has written, check out these links:
The Rainbow Garden: A Meditation Miracle [Fiction]
INEFFABLE: A visitation from a great spirit I’d never forget
