With the fall semester just around the corner, many students from the Ismaili community will be off to college for the first time. There are many who have made excellent use of their time in high school, including two students from Houston, who have surpassed the expectations of their friends and families.
Rehman Hassan
Rehman graduated recently from Dulles High School in Sugar Land, and will be attending Stanford University for the upcoming fall semester, planning to get a bachelors in an interdisciplinary field (i.e. anthropology, urban studies, or human rights). While also planning to pursue a coterminal master’s degree in international policy studies.
“I hope to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex social, political, and cultural landscapes,” says Rehman, “I aspire to conduct research that sheds light on the impact of social determinants on health outcomes and human rights, while also advocating for policies and interventions that promote equality, justice, and inclusivity.” He adds, “Stanford’s commitment to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and social impact resonates deeply with my aspirations.”
At the age of 11 Rehman had founded the organization iCare Health to help international issues concerning health, education, and more. Thus far, the organization has helped 60,000 people and has provided services that are worth $200,000 for countries all around the world.
“The journey has not been without its challenges and sacrifices. It has required immense dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of my goals.” notes Rehman, “However, every moment spent working towards my goals has been worthwhile.”
Rehman has not only affected people on a global scale but on a local one as well. One of the ways he helped his community was by participating in volunteer work at a suicide hotline and a homeless youth hotline.
“Through these volunteer roles, I developed crucial skills in active listening, empathy, and crisis intervention.” explains Rehman.“These experiences also deepened my understanding of mental health challenges and the importance of accessible support systems for vulnerable populations.”
Pen collecting is another hobby that Rehman has also enjoyed during highschool. While not seeming to have much of an effect on his academics at first, it eventually became an integral part of his academic journey.
“Exploring different pen brands, nib types, and ink colors became a source of inspiration for my writing endeavors.” Rehman reminisces. “This hobby not only sparked my creativity but also instilled in me a sense of appreciation for craftsmanship and attention to detail.”
In the near future, Rehman will be attending the United Nations General Assembly this September and is currently helping with the organization of the second-ever US-based UN Youth Climate Conference.
“Being able to work with the White House, congresspeople, university professors, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has been incredible,” said Hassan, “I also look forward to ensuring that the event is a success and meeting other young people.”
Rumaisa Jesani
Rumaisa has just graduated from Clear Creek High School, and will be attending Harvard University for the upcoming fall semester to major in neuroscience.
“I knew I wanted to become a researcher after taking AP Capstone and was looking for the topic,” says Rumaisa. “I took AP Psychology in senior year and fell in love with the brain and everything there is to be discovered!”
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Even though she was not always planning on going to an Ivy League, Rumaisa couldn’t be happier about the outcome her perseverance has produced. “My goal was to work hard, give my best in everything I did, and make sure that I learned from the process,” remarks Rumaisa and “Fortunately, the byproduct of that mindset led me to an Ivy League.”
Along with her hard work, Rumaisa gave a lot of credit to her organized schedule when it comes to her immense academic success “I am an early riser, so during the school year I wake up and finish any schoolwork before I leave for the day,” she notes. “After school, I take time to myself and give time to my family, start working through my homework, go to extra curricular activities for the day, Jamatkhana when possible, and then sleep.”
Rumaisa comments that she could not have gone without her hobby, saying, "Crocheting helped me step away from my busy schedule to take time to myself and de-stress.”
For students, Rumaisa encourages them to pursue what they are passionate about and to never give up on what they wish to achieve. “Don’t do things because they will look good on your resume or because all your friends are doing them; do it because you want to,” she says She adds, “Doing many things with no passion is worse than doing a few things that you are passionate about.”
Rumaisa is now preparing for college and is enthusiastic to take the next step to study neuroscience professionally. “Don’t be afraid to dream big; those dreams give you the courage to do big,” she advises. “Ask questions whenever you need help, and don’t let obstacles stop you. Get back up and try, try again because eventually what you want will happen.”
Both students illustrate their quest for excellence and desire to elect careers that can help serve humanity. We wish them success in their future academic aspirations.
