Meet Odile Hobeika

Major: Philosophy
Hometown: Merrimack, New Hampshire

Odile Hobeika, a member of the Wake Forest debate team, was one of two Wake Forest students chosen to debate the priorities of the Obama administration with students from other universities at a Smithsonian Institution event the day before the Presidential Inauguration in January.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a pescetarian, which is a cool title for a person who only eats fish as a source of meat. I once sang back-up vocals for a hip-hop song featuring Da’ron and DJ Decryption.

What are your plans after graduation?

I am attending the University of Pittsburgh’s joint Master’s and Doctorate program in Communication. My concentrated research will focus on political rhetoric.

Have your plans changed over the last four years?

I planned on becoming a finance major when I first enrolled. I figured it was a great foundation for law school. I now proudly graduate as a philosophy major who will enter academia for the rest of her life. Needless to say, Wake Forest changed my conceptual understanding of a “successful career.”

How have you grown during the last four years?

In my first two years here, I tried meeting everybody and calling them friend, which I thought to be a noble goal indeed. The goal became a tiring task. In my last two years here, I realized that not all people’s stories are worth turning the page. What I am saying sounds anti-social, I understand. But I learned how to differentiate between acquaintance and friend. An acquaintance shares a story worth skimming. A friend slowly reveals verses of a masterpiece worth re-reading.

Why did you choose Wake Forest?

I chose Wake Forest because of its amazing debate team. The main reason I’m glad I enrolled though, is the amazing people I have met on this campus. Maybe I’m sounding cliché because I am in the midst of the nostalgic graduation process.

What was your favorite class?

My favorite class has been Japanese Film with Dr. Peter Brunette and Dr. David Philips. Their knowledge of film and Japanese culture, respectively, aggregated into a course that taught me how to analyze art critically. Art is not so subjective as I once assumed.

Who has influenced you most?

Dr. Allan Louden has influenced me the most. Our conversations under the Magnolia tree as his beautiful golden retriever romps in front of Carswell Hall have embedded in me the seeds of wisdom. He has teased sane thoughts out of my tangled mind.

Did you conduct research with any of your professors?

I conducted a research project in the summer of 2006 through the Richter Scholars program. It allowed me to travel to Lebanon during a war to interview women about their lives. It also piqued my research interests about communicative patterns and techniques in the Middle East for graduate school.

Did you study abroad?

Yes, at Worrell House in London. The house-cleaner, Rose, made me realize how well the television series, “Fawlty Towers,” represents the British. She also taught our group that “lady birds” in the United Kingdom are the equivalent to the American misnomer, “bed bugs.”

What was your most meaningful extra-curricular experience?

I have debated with an amazing team of assertive individuals who taught me to speak up and argue. Argue. Argue. Argue. Switch-side argumentation has become the root cause of my ability to perceive the flow of ideas so clearly and neatly. It is the most honest and ethical task to argue both sides of an argument until you buckle under the exhaustion of arguing against yourself. When you get up again, you realize which side of the issue you really are on. I was just lucky to have a national group of competitive debaters to make that process a lot more frustrating, and ultimately a lot more efficient.

What’s your favorite memory of the last four years?

My favorite memory of Wake Forest will always be the Senior Colloquium dinner at the President’s house. Mrs. Hatch is the most hospitable and graceful of ladies. The nine other students, who I had the pleasure of listening to, kept me on the edge of my seat and gave the most handsome of speeches. The faculty and deans took the time to speak with us as peers. It was an amazing evening. (No, I don’t enjoy wrapping toilet paper around a tree.)

What will you miss most about Wake Forest?

I will miss the walk along the Upper Quad – through sun and rain and wind. I will miss the smiles and conversations with Aramark workers like Mona and Maria. I will miss going into the side chapel and playing piano. I will miss watching people dressed in theme costumes walking to their respective fraternity parties. I will miss going to the Library Circulation Desk to talk with Peter Romanov at any hour from 4 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Words of advice for incoming freshmen ...

If you’ve prepared yourself throughout the semester in increments, finals are a breeze. Don’t be part of the library crowd that boasts about Adderall and stress. Ten minutes of reviewing notes after each class prevents two hours of cramming before exam time.

— Office of Creative Services
May 14, 2009