Aya Soweidan advances a family tradition, and her aspirations, at HFC

Unlike many siblings, Henry Ford Early College student Aya Soweidan (pronounced “Sway-den”) doesn’t mind following in the footsteps of her older brother Hadi.

“He’s the guinea pig. We send him somewhere, and if it works, I do it too,” said Aya, laughing.

Hadi is proud of his sister, too: "Aya always amazes me through her skill in subjects outside of my depth, and her ability to establish strong connections."

Proud to be HFC – like her mother and brother

Born in Royal Oak, Aya, who speaks fluent English and Arabic, is the youngest of two and lives in Dearborn Heights. Her brother, her mother Lama, and her aunt Heidi are HFC alumni.

“Going to HFC is definitely a family tradition,” said Aya. “I think it’s very cool because we have a mother and her two children who attended the same school. It’s a family school. It’s really nice to show that to people.”

Aya is the captain of the tennis team and the No. 1 singles player for Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights, which is her home high school. She will graduate from HFEC in 2026, where she will earn her diploma, as well as an associate degree in liberal arts from HFC.

Aya will then transfer to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where Hadi attends. Aya will finish her bachelor’s degree, majoring in English and minoring in psychology. She plans to attend law school at U-M, too, and aspires to a career in criminal law. She works as a legal assistant at her uncle’s law firm in Northville, Mark Haidar Attorney & Counselor at Law.

“Many members of my family are lawyers: two uncles, one aunt, and three cousins,” said Aya. “Since I was young, I have always asked them about their cases and pursuing law as a career. I’ve been shadowing my uncle and my mother when they go to court. My mother is an Arabic interpreter for the court. I find it fascinating. I enjoy talking to a crowd.”

Always looking for ways to better herself

Through the Early College, Aya is a member of the Student Council, the Key Club, and Active Minds. Through HFC, she is a member of the Henry Ford II Honors Program. She took first place at the 2025 Liberal Arts Network for Development (LAND). HFC hosted this year’s LAND Conference, which was its 40th anniversary.

“The best part about attending the Early College is it gave me access to the College. I will participate in UROP at U-M this summer. I attended the ‘Pulitzer on the Road’ event. I really enjoyed the conversation between the two journalists, the way they answered questions,” said Aya. “Thanks to HFC, I’ve made plenty of connections and friendships. If I didn’t come to HFC, I wouldn’t have had so many opportunities.”

Honors Program Director Chardin Claybourne and HFC psychology instructor Alison Buchanan have enjoyed seeing Aya grow through her experiences at HFC. Buchanan had Aya in two of her psychology classes and served as her advisor on a directed study project for the Honors Program.

“Aya was one of the first students to welcome me when I joined the Honors Program as director,” recalled Claybourne. “That was very heartwarming and meaningful as the new guy in Honors Hub. She loves to talk, often stopping by for a quick chat. Aya is very driven and motivated. I was especially impressed by her decision to take an additional honors English course, even though she’d already satisfied the requirements. She’s already demonstrated a commitment to excellence and learning that is enviable, and which will grow as she continues her ascent.”

Added Buchanan: “Aya is an amazing student! She’s always involved in something. She never stops! She is busy with activities that really make her well-rounded and make her successful in her academic career and her personal life. Aya is always looking for ways to better herself. She has such a positive attitude. She doesn’t get too defeated or down about things when they don’t go her way. She just loves to learn and is always looking for the next best thing to be a part of! I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to know her.”