IN MEMORY OF Laila Muhanna. [This interview is from 2016.] She was born and raised in Gainesville and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner. She attended Lakeview Academy and Auburn University and received a Master of Science in Clinical Counseling Psychology from Brenau University.
“I have a younger brother and sister and come from a very loving family. My parents are originally from Syria, and both came to the U.S. after they married. My father and mother decided that Gainesville was the place for my father to start his practice in neurosurgery. Shortly after they moved here, I was born,” she said. “My parents provided my brother, sister, and I with amazing travel opportunities growing up. My first visit to Syria happened when I was 3 months old. My mother and father felt it was important for us to know our family who still lived in Syria. As a result, we visited Syria yearly and spent at least two months there. This allowed me to have a relationship with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that still live in Syria. These experiences have allowed me to completely immerse myself in the Arab Christian culture as well as maintaining my identity as an American citizen.”
We caught up with Laila to find out more about her life, interests and love for the Hall County community.
Question: Who are some of the most interesting people you’ve met while living in Hall County?
Answer: “I have quite a few: Mr. Gus Weland was an amazing man and I had spoken to him several times over the years prior to his passing. He was so successful and had the kindest heart,” she said. “Dr. John Kennedy at Lakeview Academy – he is such an intelligent person with an amazing vision for the school. I also find him to be very relatable and interesting person to speak with.
“Dr. Gale Starich, Dean of the School of Human Sciences at Brenau University, she mentored me quite a bit when I first came to Brenau and she is someone I have always admired her perseverance, her intelligence and her integrity.”
Q: If you could give a piece of advice to a crowd of people what would you say?
A: “I’d have two separate pieces of advice: 1) ‘No matter what happens to us in life, things will be ok. They just will be.’ 2) Winnie the Pooh’s advice: ‘Life is a Journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.'”
Q: Tell me a little bit about your history and work with Lakeview Academy?
A: “I attended Lakeview Academy from Kindergarten through my senior year, graduating in 2002. One of the things that was and continues to be so wonderful about Lakeview is how supportive the staff and teachers are of their students. When I was there, they embraced cultural diversity and encouraged me to to be true to myself – a person who lives in the United States but still has strong cultural and familial ties to Syria,” she said.
“As an alumni of Lakeview Academy, I believe it is important for me to give back to the school and do what I can to support it. I want to remain a part of the Lakeview family. One of the ways I hope to give back to Lakeview is through my recent appointment as a member of the Lakeview Academy Board of Trustees. I am so humbled by this opportunity and look forward to working with this remarkable group people.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “So many things! Hall County is an interesting area especially as it continues to grow and prosper. We have the 1996 Olympic Rowing Venue and we also have NEGMC – the medical hub for much of North Georgia, and we have several Universities here as well. Gainesville, especially is very unique because we have all of the components of a growing city, but, we still have the lake and all of the trees within the city; which can make it feel like a town.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County and why?
A: “Poor Richards, definitely. They’re food is always on point and the atmosphere is always calming and welcoming. Another favorite is Johnny’s Barbeque; the food is always good quality and easy to pick up in the middle of the work day.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.
PROJECT PATRONS:
