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Alumni Reflections
by Sahar Jahani, Class of 2005
(from a speech given at our Ramadan Benefit Dinner on Oct. 15, 2005)
Albert Camus, a twentieth century play
Wright, once said, “Life is a sum of all your choices.” I see life as a
big banquet with many different types and assortments of dishes. People
can choose to eat from any of those dishes but how do they decide which
one is the most beneficial? Every day of our lives consist of numerous
choices and decision making situations, especially for young adults
quite like myself. We confront many issues during the day, such as,
“Should I pray?” or “Should I keep watching this television program?” In
life, you can choose to live the wrong way, or you can choose the right
path. In my opinion, the wisest decision my family has ever made, for
the future of their children, was enrolling my sister and me at New
Horizon School.
Dr. Wayne Dyer, a psychologist, once
mentioned that in order for people to be happy and content with their
lives, one main thing they need is the feeling of belonging. When I
attended New Horizon and even after I graduated, it seemed like whenever
I was here the world revolved around me. Just as the pieces that
perfectly fit in a puzzle, this is where I fit in the most. I feel like
this school was and always will be my second home. Everyone here knows
everyone else, everyone knows my name and they all seem to care about my
personal needs. This environment is a perfect place for a child to grow
up and learn Islamic values without being forced and pushed to do so.
New Horizon has set the stage for my future and taught me morals and
values that no amount of attendance at the mosque every weekend could
have taught me. I utilized these values in my every day life at public
school, either for myself or to teach to my peers.
When I first entered public school, I
was frightened by the large number of students and the big campus but
was quickly comforted by the great number of Muslim students who
attended the school. Yet even though we are all from the same religion
and the same background, we do not share the same values. Some of my
Muslim friends do everything that my non-Muslim friends do, and worst of
all; they put down their own religion. In my school, it’s considered bad
to be Muslim and no one is really proud or enthusiastic about Islam. Of
course there are a few exceptions; because there are some students who
share the same values and ideas that I do. Obviously not all Muslims who
didn’t attend a private Muslim school are lax about their faith but
still I was distressed about the fact that so few Muslims acknowledge
their religion. New Horizon educated me to be proud of who I was
regardless of what other people said and what the media portrayed.
New Horizon isn’t just an average
Muslim school, it’s better than most schools. Academically, what can I
say? A “Blue Ribbon School”? Achieving this award obviously speaks for
itself. But this school doesn’t just prepare you for high school
academically, but socially as well. Students can experience things like
Big Rock Creek camp, or Channel Islands, things that students, in most
public schools, aren’t fortunate enough to have and yet it prepares us
for the future school environments. Events such as the eighth grade
Washington D.C. trip allow us to associate and interact with non-Muslims
and help us view different aspects of cultures and religions. Although
many people would think that a small community such as this school will
isolate kids from other students, personally it hasn’t prevented me from
interacting in clubs and sports at my current school. New Horizon is a
combination of academic excellence, Islamic morals, and always a whole
bunch of fun!
Honestly, before I left New Horizon, I
didn’t think I would miss it a lot but after I graduated I realized and
appreciated everyone and everything I learned. There are a few students
who say that they dislike the school and would rather go to a public
school but they don’t know how much they’ll miss it and wish to come
back once they’re gone. I know this because I feel the same way. I have
made so many friends and memories at this school that I would never be
able to replace them. The staff, the faculty and the students are all
like family to me. They are so committed in helping us achieve our goals
and be successful people. I hope and pray that in the future I can give
back to this school that has done so much for me.
In my opinion, New Horizon is the best
investment a parent can make for the future of their children and also
for the future of Islam. Not only do the students at this school learn
Islamic principles and values but they also have the opportunity to grow
and have fun in a safe and welcoming environment. I would like to thank
all the teachers and staff who spent time with my peers and me to ensure
that we could be the best that we can be. New Horizon has made me into
the person that I am today and made me enjoy being who I am. My time at
New Horizon School, like all good things, had to come to an end. And as
I begin a new chapter in my life, I look back and say, “Thank you!”
Salamu Alaikum.
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