PORT NECHES — Omar Hazma’s summer trips to Jordan have made a lasting impression on the Port Neches-Groves High School senior.

Hazma, who is ranked in the top 2 percent of his class, has traveled with his father, Dr. Khalid Hamza, and other family members to Jordan where they worked with the Syrian American Medical Society and helped the less fortunate.

Hamza plans to attend Lamar University and major in biology as he works on a path toward becoming a doctor with the goal of working with Doctors Without Borders.

“It’s the ability to change people’s lives for the better, that’s my biggest passion,” Omar Hamza said. “I’ve been dreaming of this for as long as I can remember.”

As a volunteer overseas, Hamza and his sister saw orphan children and helped with basic duties while there.

The work did not leave him fulfilled, though.

“I felt like I could have done more,” he said. “You don’t know what you’ve got until you see some who are without. My sole purpose is to help these kind of people.”

Hamza doesn’t feel the lure of big money that is associated with a physician’s profession. In fact, he doesn’t understand how someone can go through years and years of college just for the money.

The soon-to-be high school graduate isn’t looking to attend a university far away either.

“I’d like to get my bachelor’s degree (from LU) and hopefully go to the University of Houston,” he said. “At this point I realize money doesn’t mean anything. It’s just material.”

Hamza looks to his parents as role models. His father came to the U.S. by himself at the age of 17 and is now a successful forensic neuropsychologist. His mother, Niveen Yaseen, is a chemist.

Hamza doesn’t have much free time right now. He recently began a job at Full FX and plans to use his own money to help pay for tuition and books.

Hamza is a member of the National Honor Society and captain of the tennis team at the school. He’s also involved with the French Club and qualified for state in DECA.

PN-G High School’s Jill Hamilton has taught Hamza for the past two years in pre-advanced placement pre-calculus and AP calculus.

“I have watched Omar grow and am very proud and honored to have been his teacher,” Hamilton said. “Omar is enthusiastic, funny and kind to others. He adds something special to each class meeting with his positive disposition and encouraging ways. I look forward to seeing what Omar accomplishes in the future, as he consistently displays great strength in both academics and character.”

Twitter: MaryMeauxPANews