A beautiful mind

Faraaz was always an older brother to me. I looked up to him in many different ways and for many different things. I remember when I was a freshman and new to High School. I tried out for volleyball. Faraaz had remembered my name and the little interactions we had in the past. Before the first practice had started he quickly came up to me and told me “hope your first day as a high schooler went well. I’m expecting big things from you this season.” That season went on and I soon became the setter for the B team and Faraaz had become the setter and captain of the SAISA team. From my interactions and what I saw in the 7th, 8th and 9th grade, I had learned very valuable lessons from Faraaz. I had learned lessons such as determination, leadership, and communication. But this wasn’t enough for me. I needed to get closer to my role model and know him better. So the year went on and both of us decided to try out for Badminton. He was new to the sport and I was also fairly new to the sport. From the very first practice he had asked me to practice with him and hit with him. We would play everyday that season and soon enough we became closer and closer. Something had clicked and we started behaving with each other like we had known each other forever and we were best friends. We started to message each other and call each other on a daily basis. Go out to dinner together and hang out with each other. After that season, Faraaz graduated from High School the following month. I was really sad and upset that he was going to leave and not be around in the hallways anymore. Over the next two years he was always checking up on me and Skpying me to see if I was doing well. He would visit during the summers and winters and would call me as soon as he came. He would always be so excited to see me and hangout with me and he truly knew how to make me and everyone else around him feel special.

Faraaz taught me so many lessons in life and it was an honour knowing him. He has made me into a better person and he is influencing thousands of people to this day. He has made an impact on all of us through his actions and we should truly celebrate the wonderful life that he has had.

When I was in the 4th and 5th grade I would go into my dad’s classroom to work on my homework. I first met Abinta when she was being tutored by my dad in math. I would sit on the same table as her. I would be very nervous as she was a middle schooler and I was just in elementary. She was a tall girl with glasses and looked very serious. My dad would sometimes ask her to help me with my homework and she would happily show me all the steps to solve my math problem. She was very patient and kind when she taught me. My next interaction with her came in high school. I was a freshman getting ready to go on class trips. It was the first time we could choose where we went and I was very excited to choose my destination and go with all my friends. I ended up getting chosen to go to Nepal and so did Abinta and Tarishi. As a freshman I was too nervous to speak to her and eventually through mutual friends on that trip I started to get to know her better. She was one of the most caring and kindest people you would have ever met. That entire trip we would have many conversations that were both serious and funny. Whenever we talked it felt like I had known her for many years and I could relate to her and tell her all my feelings in just a few days of getting to know her. She made you feel very safe and she always reassured you when you were having doubts about something. Abinta was that friend that you could always go to when you were having a bad day and she would always find a way to cheer you up. Abinta’s smile was priceless. She had the most beautiful smile and her smile alone made so many people day. She could enter a room and completely change the atmosphere of it by just smiling and talking to people. She was a person that left a lasting impression on people and she will always be remembered.
I first met Tarishi during my class trips to Nepal in the ninth grade. I remember the first time we spoke, I felt like I had just won the world. I started talking to the prettiest girl in school. I couldn’t believe it. I will never forget that trip because that was the trip I got close to both Abinta and Tarishi. I remember sneaking out at night during that trip and talking to Tarishi at 2 am about so many different things. She had the power of relating to anyone and she was such a smart person that she could talk about so many different things. After that trip ended we kept in really good contact. We would message each other everyday and whenever we would see each other in the hallways she would run up and give me a big hug. She was always such a helpful person. She would always put her work aside to help me with my homework or give me suggestions about what to do. Tarishi was truly a special person and she always looked for the best in people. If you’ve known Tarishi, you can never forget her and she will always be in your heart. She was a very special person.