Thursday, June 10, 2010

By James Rincon

Pflag Reporter

It may be difficult to comprehend that a high school student who’s been accepted to Harvard University describes herself as “the opposite” of goal-oriented. But for Hendrickson High School’s Harvard-bound salutatorian Sheyda Aboii, the path to success is not defined by a destination – it is marked by the people she meets along the journey.

“I’m probably not very conventional in that respect. I remember my debate coach was a stickler about this. She would ask ‘what is you goal in debate for next year?’ And all I could tell her was I want to do the best I can do at that particular moment in time,” Aboii said. “I don’t want to ever feel like I’m cheating myself of reaching my potential. Ever since the beginning my parents have told me, ‘No matter how small, no matter what you do, do it to the best of your ability.’”

Aboii’s academic and extracurricular résumé is the “War and Peace” of CVs. She was involved with more clubs, groups and organizations than most people could name if asked.

She did stints on the science Olympiad, soccer and debate teams as well as school theatre and serving as president of her senior class. She all but swept the HHS senior awards, which oddly resembled a track meet with the way she literally ran laps around the stage to accept one award after another. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting she was honored for her service to the city as the youth member of Parks and Recreation Commission – but couldn’t attend because she had already started her medical research summer internship at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She was accepted into Baylor University’s Guaranteed Medical Admissions program – and turned it down. And the driving force behind all of this service and participation?

“I really wanted to try to meet as many people as I could,” Aboii said. “I didn’t want to fake myself into believing that my world was just right outside my door.

Aboii opted out of guaranteed acceptance to Baylor Medical School after much deliberation. She had visited the Harvard twice during high school when she competed in it’s annual high school debate tournament.

“I felt like it was a diverse city and I didn’t want to go to a school that was heavy on either end of the spectrum of ethnicities. I wanted to go to a melting pot. I can appreciate the chance to meet a lot of different people with a lot of different interests,” she said. “Actually I put on my housing application that I didn’t want to be with a lot of people who had my same interests. I wanted to meet as many different people, because I enjoy learning new things from other people.”

She was also encouraged by stories of her mother’s friend’s Ivy League experience.

“She went to Harvard and she felt like everybody was reaching high to accomplish something, so even if you felt down, even if you made a mistake, they would somehow pull you up with their same passion for reaching some end. I like that story,” Aboii said.

Family trips to her father’s native Iran introduced Aboii to diverse cultures at a young age. Through her experiences she developed a genuine interest in people, which she said matured during her years at Dessau Middle School.

“Dessau is a school that has so many different cultures,” Aboii said. “It was a very interesting experience, and I think that that’s what put me, alongside my experiences outside the United States, on the track of wanting to see more.”

Even at home, Aboii said her parents and siblings provided a unique perspective about life, success and diversity that is not lost on the 17 year old.

Her 13-year-old mechanically inclined brother Javit gives her help with her computer and other gadgets accompanied by a healthy dose of teasing.

Her older sister Sharizod just graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in business management despite her battle with arthrogryposis, a rare congenital joint disorder. Aboii said her sister’s sense of humor has always been a peaceful escape from the pressures of her many commitments.

“Sometimes when I get a bit too down and serious, she’s the person that reminds me to continue to live life just to live life, not for anything else that’s a distraction along the way,” Aboii said.

As for her parents, the roots of Aboii’s fruitful and hyperactive interests, she said it’s is not hard to see where she gets her lust for life.

“My mom – I’d say that she’s like her purse. She’s got so many different things in her purse. She’s got sheers for cutting hair, Sharpies, and all kinds of things. She’s always got what you need inside her purse,” she said of her mother, with whom she credits her broad interest in many different subjects. “The old saying goes ‘a jack of all trades, a master of none,’ but I don’t really believe that.”

Her father, a local pharmacist, is a constant source of wisdom from generations of their family. Aboii said when she was frustrated or hurt, he would give her perspective through a helpful adage in Farsi.

“My dad has a saying. I remember in middle school when people would talk and use mean words to splash in your face every day, he would say, ‘you can close all the doors in the world, except people’s mouths.” And that’s what his grandfather used to tell him all the time,” Aboii said. “It’s a great feeling to know that your parents aren’t stoic.

“They always tell me life is short and you never know why you’re meeting a particular person at a particular time, but it’s for a reason, so you should make the most out of it.”

Editor’s not: Sheyda Aboii is one of three former Dessau classmates that will attend Harvard University next year. She is the first in the Pflag’s series of features of those students.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1335583&forum_id=1#15219134)

It is amusing how pissed Michelle Hernandez is that she virtually struck out in getting her high-paying clients into Harvard this year. These minority superstars from poor Texas high schools are not potential clients for her!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1335583&forum_id=1#15222179)

http://harvard.listserv.org/threads/view/524

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1335583&forum_id=1#15220070)