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I Am Born
I was born on September 3, 1998 in the City of Chicago making me the first child that my parent will have had. -
Perseptive
During my infantry I was very perceptive as most children are. This period in my life was the most amazing although I do not remember most of it. I was entranced by this new world and picked up on as many things as I could absorbing as much knowledge about the world around me as possible. This early perception helped me to understand the world around me and let me know that I was apart of something much bigger. -
I Am Not Alone
My brother is born. I had longed for a brother for a long time and up tell then had been an only child which became dreadfully boring at times. Getting a younger brother gave me not only a friend and companion to go on adventures and play with, but someone to lean on and take care of as well. -
Responsible
When my brother was born, I was no longer looking out for myself, I had another person to look out for, one more important than myself. My brother became my responsibility and it was my job to protect his well being. It was the job of an older brother that was required of me and I stepped up to the challenge. From that point on it was a duty of mine to put his needs before my own. This responsibility has led me to grow into a better person and brother. -
A New Friend
It was in September during first grade that a new transfer student arrived from India to my class. He was quiet and shy somewhat intimidated by the new environment that he was plunged into. Our teacher asked for someone to help him adjust to this new setting. I took the challenge eager to help a stranger and possible make a new friend in the process. That day a seed was planted that would blossom into a tree of brotherhood in which we each could count and lean on each other. -
Genuine
"In order to have a friend you have to be a friend." Those are the words that my Gaga always used to tell me. Being a friend is so much more than being compassionate, a good listener, helpful, caring, it involves being genuine. To be truthful to yourself as well as to the other person, not putting on a show, and the most important, acceptance. Acceptance of who they are and of who you are; for when you are fake in front of others you loss who you really are. -
Open Minded
When going to Pakistan for the first time that I could remember, (I went there once when I was 2) I was thrown into a world that resembled very little of the one that I was accustomed to. Instead of rejecting this difference, I embraced it. I was open to the traditions, culture and environment and tried to learn as much as I could about this strange world. That world became apart of me, all because I came at it with open arms. -
An Expedition
During my time in first grade my family decided to travel to Pakistan to visit some family that I had there. I was excited for this would mark the first time that I would be traveling on a airplane. During my time there I became learned in the cultures and traditions that flowed through my veins and was apart of who I was. During this expedition, I also visited Paris where I became acquainted with a culture and place unlike that which I call home. -
The Three Musketeers
It was just the two of us my brother and I and we were both content but we always wished to have another sibling to participate in the games we played for as they say," the more the merrier." On November 5th, 2007, the youngest and final child of my family would be born and we would get our wish truly becoming "the three musketeers." -
Leader
Being the eldest, it is ones responsibility to take care of their younger siblings; to be a leader, a role model, and an example for those younger than them. As the oldest of my brothers I needed to become a leader in order to protect and guide them between what is right and wrong, in order to be their shoulder to cry on, and their friend to laugh with. The bond of a sibling is much different than a bond with a parent. After all we are all in the same boat. -
The Day the World Lost a Light
My Gaga (grandmother) had been sick for quite some time, but she had always fought through it all. Through all the cancer, lupus, liver problems and the like, she did not give up. But after fighting all her life, it was time for her to rest, and on September 15th at 1:50 am just 12 days after my 14th birthday my Gaga passed . She had been one of the closest people to me and helped me to become the man I am today. -
Perseverant
To lose someone you love is painful. It's as if you're trapped in an endless darkness, lost; you lose focus... you lose hope.This was not me. I could not afford to. With two younger brothers looking to me for support, I had to remain strong and together; and so I persevered. There would be a time to mourn later but for now I had to remain focused for my brothers sake. I did not succumb to my sorrow but instead grew from it and was thankful for the time I was given and the memories that I had. -
Just the Two of Us
It had been about 8 years since I saw my family in Pakistan. My grandfather, who had been staying with us, wanted to go back home. He was 70 at the time so my dad thought it best that I be his escort. It was really the first time that I had traveled alone without my family and it caused me to take on many responsibilities in order to take care of grandfather as well as myself. It was an exciting and new experience that gave me responsibility as well as some independence as well. -
Caring
When you care for someone other than yourself you transcend a new level of responsibility. During my trip with my Grandfather it was a responsibility of mine to take care of him not because I had to, but because I wanted to. It was a joy felt good to help him as it does to help people in general. It can be hard to explain and much rather needs to be felt than understood. -
Connected
When seeing the holy cities for the first time I became connected. Connect to the world around me. Connected to my spirituality and connected to who I was. It was an experience unlike any that I had known before. For all my years I only saw pictures and imagined the place that I so long desired to go. To finally go there, was a true moment of breathlessness. -
Arabian Nights
When traveling with my grandfather on our way to Pakistan, we stopped in Saudi Arabia and stayed a week in each of the holy cities Makkah and Madina. It was a very spiritual and exciting experience. While we where their I was able to preform the lesser holy pilgrimage known as Umrah. I also was blessed with being able to help my grandfather preform the Umrah as well. This time would impact my life in a big way and would not be the last time that I would visit the holy cities. -
Another Family Expedition
My family once again decided to travel to Pakistan to visit some family. Although we did not stop at Paris on our way to and from Pakistan as we did on our last family trip, we visited many different countries in Saudi Arabia. We also spent a week in each of the holy cities Makkah and Madina where in Makkah we did a holy lesser pilgrimage known as umrah. Once out of Arabia, I got to see Pakistan in a whole new perspective with my family now that everyone had gotten older. -
Adaptable
When my family decided to go to both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan it was summer in both places. It was some of the most extreme heat that I had ever been in. I was forced to adapt and eventually became accustomed to the lifestyle, as difficult as it was. This experience caused me to reflect and be grateful for where I lived and that I did not have to face this kind of heat back home, and it also caused me to have respect for everyone who face the harsh environment and persevere through it all. -
Going Under the Knife
On my birthday I started feeling extreme pain in my side and the pain only progressed. I was diagnosed with appendicitis and was told that my appendix was infected and would have to be drained. Through the next two months I'd be in and out of the hospital to make sure that the drain was working properly and that the appendix was healing from the infection. After the drain was taken out I was given time to rest and would eventually get my appendix removed in a surgery that would occur on 11/3/16. -
Positive
It was a very painful experience that I had during my time with appendicitis. Through it all, I had to keep a positive attitude, after all, having a positive outlook on the whole situation is what helped me get through it all. I had to persevere and remain patient through the whole ordeal and in the end everything worked out okay. This experience has taught me lessons that will remain with me forever.
