By Eva Myers
Adam Abdelrahman will tell you that he “only” speaks five languages. While this statement is a humble one, once you get to know Adam you will learn that, for him, it is less about the feat of learning these languages and more about the experiences he has made throughout his life.
Ever since he was a child growing up in Sudan, Adam and his family have held academics and knowledge as a high importance. He began to pursue his love of knowledge as a young boy by learning to speak multiple languages. Adam’s family belonged to different tribes of people, all of whom spoke different languages. In childhood, Adam learned to speak two tribal languages as well as Arabic; while attending high school in Cairo, Egypt, he learned the Queen’s English and dabbled in French and Italian; and while attending college Adam learned to speak Turkish while studying abroad in Turkey, though he will tell you that he cheated, because Turkish is very similar to Arabic.
In childhood, Adam learned to speak two tribal languages as well as Arabic; while attending high school in Cairo, Egypt, he learned the Queen’s English and dabbled in French and Italian. . . .
Frequent travel and making connections with people around him is what led Adam to Berkshire County Arc. After attending UMass Amherst and working as a paralegal in Springfield, Adam began working part time in human services. He found he was able to empathize and help the individuals he worked with. With a background in studying law, Adam understood the history that people with disabilities lived through and how they fought for their rights, which helped him learn how to best support them moving forward.
“Reading about their background and seeing how their lives were and where they are currently makes you think and reminisce about the future and about humanity in general,” said Adam. “Any one of us could be in the same situation. You find individuals from very diverse backgrounds, and they recall things from their past and will tell you this interesting stuff, so you can see the strength of a human being.”
Adam works as a Behavioral Specialist in the Clinical Department in Pittsfield. There, he works on and behind the scenes to best serve the individuals at the Agency. Behavioral specialists work with their caseloads to make behavioral plans for individuals, meet with them and their teams on a regular basis, and work to make sure that the individuals are well-supported and continue to grow.
Adam’s favorite part of his job is working with his team of specialists. “Although it is an attractive job, it can be stressful at times,” Adam says. “But with the right team that you have it becomes even better and fun. Especially the fun! I love the fun part, because it makes you sane, and it helps serve the individuals properly.”
Outside of work and academics, Adam has a diverse background of hobbies and extracurriculars. Since childhood he has studied Kung Fu, and is a second degree black belt. He also worked in and taught theater for nine years, which also incorporated his deep love of travel to work with theater companies. Finally, Adam has worked as a mentor for young people in the Springfield area. As a mentor he helps students prepare for their futures, teaching them how to apply to colleges and how to do their taxes. He also helps support young people of color, using his law background to teach them about history and how to safely navigate the world today.
Adam is studying for the LSAT and plans to start law school in the fall. His understanding of law and knowledge of history inspires him in his everyday work with BCArc. Ask anyone who has met Adam, it is his light and his passion for learning, still, that both staff and individuals navigate toward once they meet him.
