SEEK Alum Finds Success as Author and Educator

Fatimah Basir, a proud graduate of the York College SEEK Program, is enjoying a successful career based on the training and mentoring she received at her alma mater.

^{York alumna, Fatimah Bashir reads to her class}

A member of the graduating class of 2017, Ms. Basir holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education and loves being an educator. For her though, teaching doesn’t end at the classroom stage. She recently published the children’s book, I'm a Big Fish, Not a Guppy to help children understand that they can achieve anything they want.

“The waves of life can get very rough, with highs and lows occurring at any given time,” said Basir. “These challenges may prove to be difficult, but children can learn to swim through those waves if given the right tools. This analogy describes the concept of my book. It is a tool that children can use to develop the mindset that they can do anything and are strong enough to swim through the unpredictable waves of life.”

“As a proud SEEK Scholar and graduate of York College, I have benefited from the academic support that empowered me to achieve my educational goals and grow both personally and professionally,” said Basir. “I have dedicated my life to making an impact on the lives of young people and have worked with children ranging from Pre-K to high school seniors.”

Starting life in Brooklyn, New York, Basir has defeated personal obstacles to achieve success for herself and the students she now teaches. She is also applying to graduate schools to pursue a Master’s degree in mental health counseling. 

“As someone who overcame a speech impediment as a child, I have a unique perspective on overcoming personal challenges, which drives my passion for empowering children to face their own obstacles with confidence and resilience,” she explained. “I have conquered my own self-confidence issues. My struggles sparked my passion for encouraging children to live their lives confidently and boldly, regardless of obstacles.”

Basir says the guppies are “all of our problems and people who try to tell us what we can and cannot do. Guppies swim in a small pond, and big fish swim in the sea, where the possibilities for their life are endless.”

Learn more about I’m a Big Fish, Not a Guppy.