Zeinab Akl Abbas: Three Continents, Three Languages and One Outstanding Graduate
Zeinab Akl Abbas’ journey to a degree at Owens Community College spanned three continents and multiple languages. Through it all, it’s been her family’s belief in her and the support from her community that’s seen her through.
“My parents and siblings have put this thought in my mind that I can do whatever I set my mind to,” Akl Abbas said. “It’s not just words of support, they are always there when I need them.
“In our culture, we are very close with people in our community, so they would always come to my home and ask about me. They’re just there for me.”
Akl Abbas will check off another step in her journey in May when she graduates with an Associate of Applied Science in Vascular Sonography while being named the program’s outstanding graduate.
Akl Abbas was born and raised in Venezuela and spent two years in Lebanon when she was younger to learn more about her cultural background and how to speak and write Arabic. Seven years ago, her family left Venezuela to find better medical care for her younger brother. They first went to Lebanon for six months before coming to the United States.
They settled in northwest Ohio, following other members from their village in Lebanon who had already come to the area. A high school graduate at 16 in Venezuela, Akl Abbas went to school in the U.S. to learn English before enrolling in college. She is now fluent in Spanish, Arabic and English.
“The hardest thing is, I came here not knowing one word of English,” Akl Abbas said.
Akl Abbas is the third eldest of seven children. Her younger brother, now 13, has struggled with medical issues for most of his life. During her time in the Vascular Sonography program, she spent three months living in the hospital with him, only leaving to go to school.
While it was a difficult time, it helped Akl Abbas realize that her empathetic nature would not do well in the nursing field, which was her initial plan.
“It was hard for me and my family, watching him go through so much hardship,” Akl Abbas said. “I’ve always wanted to help people and take care of people, but being in the hospital for three months, I decided nursing was not for me.”
She wanted to remain in the healthcare field, and with a love for anatomy and learning how the body works, she decided on sonography, where she could still look at images of the body and take care of people.
Akl Abbas talked about the positive energy program chair Julie Posey and the entire staff brought to the classroom. It made coming to class and labs much easier knowing the supportive environment.
“This is the best decision I have ever made,” Akl Abbas said of coming to Owens. “Every hospital I have done my clinicals at, once they find out I’m from Owens, they say, ‘Oh my gosh, Owens has a great program. We can see it by the way you carry yourself.’”
After graduation, Akl Abbas plans to enter the vascular sonography field.
Learn More About Vascular Sonography
Published May 2026