Ali Muhammad, Premier Security Guard
Hi Ali! Welcome to Hot Bench! So, I’m sure almost all of our readers have seen you around Grounds, but they might not all know that you are our steadfast security guard. So, when did you first move to Charlottesville?
I moved to Charlottesville in 2007 from Germany.
When did you start working for the University of Virginia?
In 2013.
How did you get started here?
Well, when I first moved here I could not speak English. So, when I got here I took English classes twice a day. I took the beginner’s English course for six months, and then I took an advanced course. I then studied IT and received an Associate’s Degree in IT. Then, I got a job working at UVA as a security guard.
Where are you from?
I was born in Iraq. I was actually born in Baghdad. I left because of the war. I don’t want to be negative ,but because of the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and because of the First Gulf War I simply could not live in Iraq anymore. That was when life began to get hard, in 1991. I left Iraq for good in 1998. From 1991 to 2003 there was an embargo on Iraq, and so Iraq was unable to get any medication or food whatsoever. Those were very very hard years.
Have you been back to Iraq since?
I went back to Iraq in 2014. I could not stay because it was a nightmare—everything was destroyed. It was worse than it was in 1991 or in 1998. It was very sad. I couldn’t stay for more than two weeks. It was incredibly sad.
Is there anything you miss the most about Iraq? Anything you wish you could bring over?
That’s a good question—I don’t know. It was a good learning experience to live there, but I learned a lot about my culture once I left.
How so?
Well, once I lived in a Western country, I came to wish we had colleges in Iraq, that we had an education system. We could have done very well, but most of the time we just have war. I realized that I felt sorry about the Middle East, and about Iraq, because they never had the opportunity. They never had a choice, and they never had the opportunity to live differently.
What brought you to Charlottesville specifically?
I could not renew my visa in Germany because of the 2003 war in Iraq, so my only choices were to return to Iraq or come to America. I was able to come to America because I was granted refugee status when George W. Bush signed his second order to allow Iraqis to come to America. I was placed in Charlottesville by the American government.
Have you seen many other parts of America?
I’ve been to New York. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen—just so huge. I love museums in America, especially the National Museum in D.C. I also love American teachers and professors. They are the best in the world. They teach you to see things from many different perspectives. At Piedmont Community College, my professors were just amazing. My teacher at the Adult Learning Center was absolutely incredible. You know, when you move somewhere, you have culture shock, and the teachers helped me a lot with that.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Germany. I would love to go back to Germany.
You like Germany better?
It was a different experience. They were a lot more laid-back in Germany. Here in the US we work long hours and study a lot. For most of my time in America, I’ve worked two jobs. Life is very expensive in America
If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
Ohhh! (laughing). I would go and help the people I know need money in Iraq, and everywhere around the world. I actually play the lottery once a week so I can dream about that.
Weirdest thing you’ve seen on Grounds?
Oh my god, I don’t want to get myself in trouble! The weirdest thing is when people don’t take the opportunity to study here seriously, because when I was the students’ age I would dream about such an opportunity to study as this, which I never had.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I can always be there if they need help.
What from your own life experience would you want students to apply?
I would advise young people to move around a lot, live in different places, and have different experiences. As you get older your life starts to get faster and faster, and if you stay in the same place you’ll look back on your life and wonder what happened.
Any last remarks for students?
Don’t be afraid of the future. It’s normal to feel that way, but when you get old you don’t feel scared anymore because you’re used to the feeling, and life is like waves. Sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re down.
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aam3q@virginia.edu