Everyone can study. Everyone can even go to college. But not everyone can make a big mark on the world. Not everyone can cement their legacy and accomplishments. What motivates students to go on to do great things? How do they manage to stand out from the crowd?
These extraordinary alumni are usually influenced or encouraged by their parents or guardians to excel in a certain field.
“My dad played professional soccer….he encouraged me to be the best”, says Ibraheem Morsy, who graduated class of 2023, and won Player of the Week across the U.S.
In his senior year Hamza Ahmad, class of 2023, whose parent is in the engineering field, received a co-patent for a biodegradable water bottle cap.
However, not everyone’s success came from help with a guardian. For example, Sameen Ahmad, class of 2023 who now attends MIT, founded the Moon Mechanics club simply because she was inspired by the “lack of [clubs]…” centering around robotics.
When one is in college, it can be quite a shock to take in the new surroundings. Sameen Ahmad stated that the community of MIT is vastly different from the community of BHA.
“You have to really clarify your religious beliefs”, the alumnus says.
These extraordinary people are also thankful for what happened in their lives. Morsy is thankful his parents encouraged him to be the best at what he did, while Hamza Ahmad is thankful for “[his] friends that pushed [him] to put [his] best self out there…”.
When reflecting upon their success, the alumni look back at Brighter Horizons Academy fondly, most of them remembering the connections they had built. Morsy stated that he missed BHA because of “the community” at the school, while Hamza Ahmad reported that he missed BHA because of the “friends [he] made during high school.”
The former students also reflect on what they wish they could have done differently in high school. Morsy wishes he could have come to BHA earlier, but he “thanks Allah (SWT)” for what happened, and Hamza Ahmad states that he “would have been more organized and efficient with his studies.” Sameen Ahmad wishes she could have done more “personal projects to improve [her] technical skills…”.
With the memories of their past and their excitement towards the future, these alumni are forging their path in society, and it is admirable to see them pursuing their goals after high school graduation.
