At DSST: Montview High School, opportunity meets purpose — and for senior Sarah Hourani, that intersection has sparked something extraordinary.
“I feel like I've been exposed to a lot of great opportunities, and it's been really awesome to just be a part of the community. I think that's really what makes DSST special,” Hourani said.
Now, she’s preparing to take that sense of belonging and possibility with her to her dream school: MIT.
“I was lucky enough to be accepted to my first choice, MIT,” she said. “So, yeah, it's been really cool to have that actually be an option for me because it's one of those things where I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I'm not going to get in.’ And then when I found out, I was just over the moon. I was super excited.”
With a passion for computer science and biomedical engineering, Hourani sees MIT as more than just a prestigious institution — it's the ideal environment to continue pursuing her ambitions.
“And that is the perfect place to merge those interests and really have that freedom to explore and do research,” she said.
Those interests are shaped by both academic curiosity and a deep personal drive to make a difference in the world.
“I think that comes from just a reflection of my Middle Eastern heritage and seeing how growing up the region just doesn't have great medical technology,” Hourani said. “I've experienced firsthand the effect that war can have on people, so my ultimate dream is to merge computer science with biomedical engineering to contribute to a more accessible future for people around the world, whether that be through developing assistive technology or creating medical devices.”
Hourani's vision for change led her to launch Meditech, a student-run club focused on designing assistive technology for DSST’s Knights Kingdom program, which supports students with disabilities. With a passion for biomedical engineering, she saw an opportunity to merge innovation with inclusion.
The Meditech team began by observing and interacting with both students and paraprofessionals in the program, gaining valuable insights into the needs of their peers.
“We started by diving immediately into research,” Hourani explained. “As a team, we did some observation days in the Knights Kingdom, where we would interact with paraprofessionals and students. After taking notes and reflecting on the experience, we moved to prototyping and ideation, where we brainstormed different projects before settling on one to develop.”
That project, an adaptive sensory ball designed to support a student with tremors, is just one example of the team’s commitment to creating meaningful, real-world solutions.
“Our device ended up being an adaptive sensory ball that vibrates at different intensities based on how hard a student squeezes it,” Hourani said. “It’s a tool to help a student with tremors, providing a sensory experience that can offer comfort and support without causing harm.”
The club, now over 25 members strong, is not only tackling innovative projects but also fostering a community of collaboration and empowerment. Hourani is especially proud of the club's female majority.
“We’re having a lot of fun, and I’m proud to say it’s also female-dominated,” she said. “There are over 20 members, and most of them are female. The enthusiasm and genuine interest are incredible.”
For Hourani, Meditech is more than just a club; it’s a platform to turn her passion for engineering and humanitarian work into a force for good.
“It’s been amazing to bring this passion to life,” Hourani reflected. “Not only has it exposed other students to engineering, but it’s also created an opportunity for collaboration with the Knights Kingdom, building a sense of community between students with disabilities and others. We're creating devices that could truly help—and that collaborative energy is what makes it all worthwhile.”