Competitive spirit guides Mohamed Irhabi from LU to global research

When asked the classic "Tell me about yourself," biology (pre-med) student Mohamed Irhabi smiled. His answer was simple: "I love sports. I love to be competitive."

That drive to compete, Irhabi explains, isn't just about the soccer field or the wrestling mat. It's how he approaches his academics, his leadership roles, and even his everyday routine.

"I turned academics into a competition, just between me and myself," he said. "Every morning I wake up and think: okay, what needs to be done? If there's an exam, you prepare. If there's an opportunity, you pursue it."

That mindset has carried him far at Lamar University (LU), a school he didn't originally plan to attend. Mohamed was set on the University of Houston until his father received a phone call from a Lamar alumnus.

The caller's message was persuasive: at Lamar, Mohamed would find not only strong academics, but also a supportive community and opportunities that could help him reach his dreams.

"Even though it's a smaller campus," Mohamed recalls being told, "there's a lot more grace than just having the name of a big university."

The decision wasn't easy. Mohamed had also been accepted into Texas A&M, Trinity University, and UT Dallas. But after prayer and reflection, he chose LU.

"Since then, I've only found the best," he said.

That "best" has included internships, research, and mentorships that connect directly to Mohammed's ultimate goal: medical school.

Through shadowing neurologist and neuropsychiatrist Dr. Carlo Hamza, Mohamed earned an internship at a local clinic that turned into part-time work.

"I just asked to shadow him," Mohamed recalls. "He encouraged me, gave me opportunities, and then suddenly I was part of the team."

That experience opened the door to research opportunities and eventually led to Mohammed's selection as a Beck Fellow.

His fellowship took him across the globe, to Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar, where he conducted research in neurology and ophthalmology. For Mohammed, the experience was life-changing, not only academically but personally.

"The Beck Fellowship was a huge blessing," he said. "I got to do neurology and ophthalmology research overseas, and it connected to what I had already been doing here. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Medical school remains his next big step, though he's still weighing specialties. Cardiology appeals to him deeply; as a child he witnessed the impact that life-changing procedures had on extending his family's time together. Dermatology fascinates him for its complexity, while ophthalmology sparked his interest through shadowing and encouragement from mentors.

Opportunities like that, Mohamed believes, wouldn't have been possible without the Reaud Honors College.

"My first semester, it was already too late to apply," he explains. "And I was asking people, 'Should I join it? Is it legit, or is it just extra work?' I got a few people who said no, but the vast majority of high-achieving students-Beck Fellows, researchers, people I respected-they were all in the Honors College. So it only made sense for me to join."

Since then, it's become one of the pillars of his Lamar experience.

"The Honors College has been extremely supportive," he said. "They don't just expect you to take harder classes, they push you to pursue high-impact opportunities like internships, projects, research. They connect you with faculty, they check in on what you're doing, and they hold you to a higher standard in the best way possible. They want you to grow holistically, not just academically."

For Mohamed, that accountability matters.

"It motivates me when I know people expect more of me," he said. "It makes me work harder, and it's not pressure in a bad way. It's encouragement."

Mohamed's Lamar journey isn't confined to the classroom or the lab. He has revived the Mixed Martial Arts Club, served as vice president of the Muslim Student Association and Helping Hands Club, represented his peers in student government, and contributed to the American Medical Student Association by building its website from scratch.

"I love sports, competition, and being involved," he said. "Even if something isn't in my field, I'll try it if it means helping my community."

Mohamed balances it all; classes, research, leadership roles, and time with family and friends, with the same competitive focus he first described. Each day is a chance to push himself further, whether that means studying for an exam, sparring at the Recreational Sports Center, or preparing for a future as a physician.

He hasn't yet chosen between cardiology, dermatology, or ophthalmology, but he knows one thing for certain:

"We'll see where the wind takes me. I'll end up where I'm meant to be."

And if his journey so far is any indication, that destination will be one of impact, service, and success, backed by the opportunities, encouragement, and community of Lamar's Reaud Honors College.

To learn more about Mohamed or the Reaud Honors College, listen to LU Moment at https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2056925/episodes/17932754-lu-moment-get-to-know-the-reaud-honors-college-s8-ep-27.