Sanad Preparatory Senior Class of 2019!
Sanad Preparatory First Graduating Class
Kareem Mirza, Hiba Kakli, and Nadeem Baksh will always hold the amazing distinction of being Sanad Preparatory Learning Center’s first graduating class. They have been incredibly busy with their college applications, taking the SATs, and their rigorous coursework load of Advanced Placement and Honors classes. Sanad Prep students are also required to take Sacred Sciences, which consists of Quran and Islamic Studies. We had a chance to sit down with the Senior Class of 2019 to discuss their experience at Sanad Prep.
When did you start at Sanad Prep?
Kareem (K) – I started at Sanad Prep in the 7th grade, 5 years ago. Overall, my experience has been positive, I always got the support when I needed it. My plans for the future is to go into a dentistry program. I want to become an orthodontist. I filed my college applications last week and got a lot of support…Inshallah everything will go well.
Nadeem (N) – I was in Sanad Prep when it first started in the 7th grade. I took a hiatus, but I was with the Sanad Prep Muslim Interscholastic Tournament (MIST) team in its second year.
Hiba (H) – This is my third year at Sanad Prep, I started in the 10th grade. I chose to come to Sanad Prep after attending public and another Islamic school. Before that, I was involved because I knew a lot of the teachers.
How do you think your experience here at Sanad Prep was different than attending a standard high school?
K – In a regular high school you rotate through periods, in Sanad Prep you have one to two main teachers, you get to talk to a lot through the day. You get to know them and they get to know you. There is a stronger connection and more support.
N – I have enjoyed it all. Here you are going to have stronger relationships with other students. You are in a classroom with teachers and students all day. I feel you get to interact with the students and teachers. You feel like there is a stronger relationship then you will get anywhere else.
H – Their (staff) approach to learning is very different, they are very involved. You do not have to look very far to get emotional support. To get the emotional support you basically do not have to do any work, they are looking for ways that they can help. Also, as Kareem and Nadeem said, it is smaller, it is a more intimate setting. You feel bonded with the students and especially the teachers.
Can you talk about your Sacred Science (Islamic Studies) experience?
K – I think it was good. It was very involved with the learning coaches compared to weekend schools. There you would get assigned work, but sometimes you get to talk about it sometimes not, and go into the next lesson. Here there are more discussions and a more proactive approach.
N – Like Kareem said, I think that our sacred science studies are taught not just in a class, but throughout the day. I think that this is the best way to Islamic studies because you get not only textbook teachings, but practical as well.
H – There is definitely a difference in the Sacred Sciences, it is not just an Islamic studies course, they apply it throughout the day.
How do you feel about your standard sciences curriculum (high school coursework) and extracurricular activities?
N – In terms of extracurricular activities, I don’t think that being in Sanad Prep or having my classes online really affect them. I am still able to go out and play different sports and get involved in different programs. Sanad Prep also offers MIST. Even though I haven’t been part of it for long, I think that this is the best extracurricular activity that I could do.
K – My first year of high school I was a little concerned because I have always been active in sports so here there are no real sports teams. But with the addition of MIST, it balances out. Our principal always said that if I really want something we can push for it and we can see what we can do. So he always gave me the opportunity to get my ideas out there.
H – The people may perceive that we missed [out]. We just had to do more work to look into the world. It was not like an opportunity was taken away by going to Sanad Prep. We just had to work more, the resources were there. But we also were introduced to a lot of new opportunities like MIST that we would not get at public school. You have to take more responsibility, which in hindsight is good because you do it earlier in life. I think that in terms of my standard sciences here, I feel like the quality of education isn’t necessarily lower than at a public school; it may even be higher, because of the amount of support and resources that we have. I do recognize that it may not be for everyone, though, because there is a level of responsibility that is needed to manage your own studies.
Now that you are leaving Sanad Prep, do you feel like you are ready to go from a smaller environment into something bigger? Do you feel prepared?
H- Yes, I feel like this is what I have been mentally preparing for; leaving the “nest” that is Sanad Prep. I anticipate some separation anxiety, because of how comfortable I’ve been here for the past few years, and how much of my personal growth I credit to Sanad Prep and my learning coaches, but I think that change is necessary for me to grow even more.
K- I do, while I get support here, a lot of the work you do is independent. Which in college is what is required for you to be successful. I feel like these skills are what I learned through my independent study.
N – I have been doing online study since sixth grade. So I am really used to independent study. So honestly, for me college should not be too different. I have been in classroom environments, so for me it is not an issue. I enjoy it. The college environment is really not going to be that much of a change. So I am ready.
Sanad Preparatory Learning Center is proud of these amazing students. We wish them well in all their future endeavors! We know they will change the world and the people around them for the better!
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