About Me

Profile

About: Hey friends, my name is Aatiq Ghulam.

I was born on December 23, 1994 and have lived in Austin my entire life. I am very close to my family and love each of them for the values they have instilled in me. Both of my parents taught me the importance of establishing a strong work ethic and that has assisted me in reaching all my goals. I have two sisters who taught me the importance of compassion and patience in everything I do. I also have an older brother who has been my role model and friend throughout the challenges I have faced in my life. Last, but not least, my family recently adopted a Yorkie named Zazu. He is the most reckless dog you will ever meet, but you can’t help but love him.

One of the things I love most about college is the amount you learn through classes and organizational involvement. My desire to learn keeps me in the library most days, but I am still able to create friendships through organizations such as the Texas Wranglers. This is an organization I am proud to say I am a member of because of their emphasis on the value of unity and the things you can accomplish with the help of a few friends.

Outside of school, I love to stay active and fit. In high school, I was an avid basketball player. Every day after school I would go to the local gym to play pickup games with anyone there. Today, although I still love basketball, I exercise mostly by lifting weights and running in Zilker Park. Also, one of my favorite hobbies is to listen to a music album to its entirety. My favorite artists are J. Cole and Eminem, but I am open to listening to all types of music. Cheeseburgers are my favorite food and Amy’s Ice cream is the best ice cream there is. I am always up to grab burgers or ice cream with anyone.

There are a few figures in my life that drive me to be a man not with just a successful career, but someone who has a lasting impact on his surroundings: God and my family and friends. I thank god for all the opportunities I have been given and the people he has surrounded me with. My family and friends are the people who support me in all that I do and they are the people who I want to make the most proud of me. Without these figures in my life I know I wouldn’t be the man I am today.

Why I Ride

What drove me to apply to Texas 4000 was my personal experience with cancer. My father suffered from Oral Cancer, but has survived after a five year battle. Although he has survived, he is not the man he was before because of the abundance of medication he took as a cancer patient. Recently, one of my best friends brother, Sang Doan, passed away after suffering from leukemia. Sang was an incredible man that anyone would have been lucky to have met. His charisma was contagious and he was always willing to help a friend in need. Sang's sudden death and my father's struggle made me realize the long lasting effects cancer has.

Any cancer story is worth riding for, but it isn't about our specific cancer experience. I ride for anyone and everyone who has been affected by cancer in any shape or form. I ride for my team, my family, my friends, everyone who I have ever met, and everyone I have yet to meet. We all have been affected by cancer one way or the other. I ride to leave cancer in the past.