St. Mary’s senior men’s soccer defender Amir Reda, this week’s CAC INTRODUCING … featured student-athlete, has been a leader for the Seahawks for two years as a team captain.  He is also a campus leader and hopes to use his insight and awareness of a variety of issues to be a future leader in American government.

What is your background in the sport you play?   My father is from Egypt and played soccer there all his life.  When I turned five he signed me up and coached my first team.

What is your favorite spot on campus?  My favorite spot on campus is the docks on the St. Mary’s River.  During the warm months everyone is out on the docks and it gives St. Mary’s a summer camp vibe.  On top of this, there is nothing like a sunset on the docks.

Other than your team, what organization (s) do you participate in?  I am a part of the Judicial Board, the student representative of the Alumni Council, a student ambassador in the Admissions Office, a member of the Legislative Assembly Committee, and the Vice-President of the newly founded Hawk-Zone club, a club designated to raise attendance at men’s and women’s basketball games.

Briefly describe the most memorable experience during your collegiate athletic career.   Every time the national anthem plays and the subsequent adrenalin rush.

What is the most important societal issue facing college students?  I think college students struggle a lot with doing what society wants them to do and doing what they want to do.  I know many students who would love to do Major “X” but unfortunately there is not great potential to be rich in this so they end up doing Major “Y” instead. 

If you could change any one item in the world (in your personal life, school, community, amateur or professional sports, national/international issue, etc.), what would it be, why, and how would you do it?   I would abolish capital punishment.  Before taking a class on it here I did not feel strongly on the issue one way or the other.  However, I have since been made aware of the cruel and unusual way it occurs and feel like it should be illegal.  Hopefully if I am elected to a political office I can propose such a bill.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?   I am a political science major and the most important thing I have learned in it is everyone has an opinion on an issue and not everyone will have the same opinion on a particular issue.

Other than your family members, who was the most influential person in your life?  My coach Herb Gainey has been the most influential person in my life.  He is the person who helped me find my first job and he will tell you his family is the reason why I dress so nicely today.  However, more importantly he is the person who introduced me to St. Mary’s when I would have never considered it and has been like a second father to me.

If you could give one piece of advice to elementary school children, what would that advice be?  Never judge a book by its cover.

What is your favorite form of entertainment?  Music is my favorite form of entertainment because it can get your adrenalin flowing or calm you down if you are having a rough day.

Outside of the Capital Athletic Conference, who or what is your favorite sports person or team?  My favorite sports team is the Dallas Cowboys.  I have been a Cowboys fan since I was little and this is a little strange since the rest of my family members are Redskins fans and I grew up right outside Washington D.C.  My favorite sports person is Muhammad Ali, not only because he was so dominant in his sport, but because he used the fame he got from boxing to promote things he believed in, something you rarely see today.

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with?   I’d like to have dinner with Spike Lee because I think he is a genius, President Barack Obama because he is the leader of the free world and an incredibly inspirational figure, and Malcolm X because he is such a mysterious figure and I would love to ask him questions about present day America.