Running the gamut: During his four years at Saint Mary’s, Sharbel AbouBechera ’25 has had the chance to alter the chemical makeup of detergent, test human stem cells, edit the genetic code of algae, and even dissect and suture organs. “I feel like I’ve really broadened my skill set as a scientist during college,” he says. / Photo by Francis Tatem
Making Family History: As a Scientist, Leader, and Dancer, Sharbel AbouBechara ’25 Is Daring to Experiment
A “first-gen” college student and Biochemistry major, AbouBechera has conducted groundbreaking research with faculty and scored a competitive medical internship. His proudest accomplishment? Founding SMC's Middle Eastern and North African Club.
According to the , around one in three Saint Mary’s students today are trailblazers, the first in their family to pursue a college degree. For many first-generation students—“first-gens,” as they often refer to themselves—the journey to and through college brings unique struggles and surprises. With the Making Family History series, we ask first-gen Gaels to share, in their own words, their history, hopes, and advice for the next generation.
Today, we’re highlighting Sharbel AbouBechera ’25, the son of two Lebanese immigrants, a first-generation college student, and a Biochemistry major. During his time at Saint Mary’s, AbouBechera has conducted numerous research projects, and in fall 2023, he secured a competitive clinical internship with Stanford University’s School of Medicine. He is also the founder and co-president of the , which seeks to foster a welcoming space for all Gaels interested in the region, its culture, and global significance.
A hidden world
I was in middle school, maybe sixth or seventh grade, when I first became fascinated with cell biology. It was like entering this whole new world, one you can’t really see, even though it’s all right in front of you. You need high-powered microscopes or certain tests in a lab to even indicate that cellular things are happening. Even now, I find it all so fascinating.
The road to Saint Mary’s
I grew up in Elk Grove, in the Sacramento area. Deciding on Saint Mary’s was partially about proximity: I had to find a college close by, but far enough to be on my own. From a location standpoint, Saint Mary’s was perfect.
I also applied for the Mentored Access to Programs in Science, or MAPS, program, which was a full tuition ride for STEM majors. I still remember the moment I got it. It was around midnight, I was playing video games with some friends, and then I got the email from Saint Mary’s. Suddenly, we're all celebrating in the middle of the night.
That scholarship is one of the main reasons I came to SMC. There was also the fact that, my whole life, I’ve attended small private schools. Close-knit communities with small classrooms: That’s all I’ve ever really known. However, only during my time at Saint Mary’s—especially as I heard from other friends at bigger colleges—did I realize how valuable the small school experience truly is. The connection we’re able to build with professors here, for instance, that’s gold. If I ever have a question, I know they’re just an email away, or I could easily swing by their office and chat.
Small school community, massive opportunities
In the School of Science, you often get to work alongside faculty and help them with their research. I first assisted Chemistry Professor Steve Bachofer during the 2023 Jan Term, where we experimented with different benzoic acids and observed the aggregate formation process (micellization), which is important when developing new detergents for chemistry and drug development. I also helped Biology Professor Jim Pesavento on his projects during the Spring 2024 semester, where we tested for the presence of different histones from varying genes of an algae called Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii.
During the Summer Research Program in 2024, I began working with Sonya Schuh, and her research was totally different. She’s very focused on these chemical compounds called phthalates, which are found in plastics, makeup, packaging, colognes—they're pretty ubiquitous. Working with Dr. Schuh and my research partner, Sara Karkal ’25, we exposed human adult stem cells to these phthalates, observing how the cells are affected.
The research I did with Dr. Bachofer, Dr. Schuh, and Dr. Pesavento was also different from my clinical internship with the Stanford University School of Medicine in Fall 2023. As an intern, I dissected organs, learned suturing and blood monitoring techniques, received mentorship from Stanford faculty, and practiced diagnosing patients.
Combining all these experiences, I feel like I’ve really broadened my skill set as a scientist during college.
"Caring may seem like a small thing, especially considering how big the conflicts in the Middle East currently are. But I think about how, when I saw there wasn’t a club like MENA, I initially felt like I was too small to fix the problem. Then I started MENA, we got some traction, and now we have something amazing... It really does start with caring and awareness."
Seeing a need—and acting on it
Back when I was a first-year student, I only knew one other person who was also Middle Eastern, my friend Kira Minaise ’24. So when the Club Fair happened, I looked around at all the tables, hoping to find a Middle Eastern Club or something like that. But I couldn’t. I actually texted Kira, and she said, “It’s got to be here somewhere.” We never found it, though, because it didn’t exist.
Apparently, there was a club at some point, but it probably fell apart during COVID. I was disappointed, but I let it be. Then, in March, I got an email from Kira, asking if I wanted to be part of a Cultural Night Showcase. I immediately said yes. Growing up, I used to do dabke, which is a traditional Middle Eastern folk dance that’s common in Lebanon and also Palestine, Syria, and Jordan. I was excited to be part of the performance, and when I came to the first meeting, I was shocked: There were like 15 people there!
Here we were, all at the same school, but I didn’t know any of them. So as we got ready for Cultural Night, I told myself, I’m gonna start a club. I just felt the need to start it and promote it, to create space for other people like me, so they would know where to go.
Showcasing complexity
My main goal for MENA has always been to educate people on our cultures. There are a lot of misconceptions about who we are, and we’re often clumped into one group. For example, I used to have people assume that I was Muslim. But I’m not; I’m Maronite Catholic, which is a Middle Eastern sect based in Lebanon. People who don’t know, though, often assume the whole region is uniform.
That's why it has been important to inform people that, yes, the Middle East is made up of different countries comprised of different groups, beliefs, and cultures. Even though we share the same language—Arabic—there are so many different dialects of it. My friends in the club and I often banter over a word or phrase. Like ورق العنب (waraq aleanbu), which means grape leaves; the way other club members say it is different from how I say it. So there’s just so much to learn, even amongst ourselves. And it’s been really encouraging. We regularly have people attending MENA events who aren’t necessarily Middle Eastern but just want to come and learn.
Growing up in Elk Grove, attending a Maronite church, performing dabke, I was pretty intertwined with my culture. Coming to Saint Mary’s, though, I initially took a step back from that part of myself. Thanks to MENA, I’ve been more comfortable embracing it again.
The significance of Arab American Heritage Month
April is Arab American Heritage Month, and if I could share a message with the SMC community, it would be about awareness. Just because Middle Eastern countries are far away doesn’t mean they don’t exist. It’s okay to care about those places and people. Some of those people are my family members, or my friends’ family members, you know?
Caring may seem like a small thing, especially considering how big the conflicts in the Middle East currently are. But I think about how, when I saw there wasn’t a club like MENA, I initially felt like I was too small to fix the problem. Then I started MENA, we got some traction, and now we have something amazing. Small things can have a major impact. But it really does start with caring and awareness.
The next chapter
With all my experiences at Saint Mary’s, I hope to enter the medical field. I’m currently applying for healthcare and research jobs, and I plan to apply for medical school in the next cycle. I’ll want to stay close to home for that, so I’m really interested in the University of California, Davis. But I’m also considering a career in full-time research and getting a PhD. Those are two potential paths; we’ll see where life takes me.
I know MENA will continue to thrive after I’m gone. I had a moment recently, at one of our dabke rehearsals, where I realized what I had started. There were all these first-, second-, and third-years, practicing this dance that meant so much to me—and entirely without my help, honestly.
I just stood back and watched. I thought, Thank goodness it’s in good hands.
(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
Hayden Royster is Staff Writer at the Office of Marketing and Communication for Saint Mary's College. Write him.
