Introducing: Hafsah Syed, April 2016 Blogger of the Month!
Not too long ago, I had the enlightening opportunity to get to know outstanding Youth Are Awesome blogger Hafsah Syed. (actually, we chatted on her 17th birthday!) We sat down at Good Earth Coffeehouse, and didn’t end up eating or drinking anything, but I still learned a lot about who she is as a person.
Although Hafsah hasn’t been blogging for long, the quality and thoughtfulness of her content is something worthy of applause. A grade 11 student at Crescent Heights High School, Hafsah’s life is exciting and fulfilling with her involvement in student council ( she’s an executive member), Youth Volunteer Corps (she’s a student leader!), social issue advocacy (she’s a chairperson of the Syrian aid club at her school!), and of course Youth Are Awesome. Hafsah joined Youth are Awesome because she appreciates how it truly gives youth a platform to express their voices.
“Even if only one person read my blog, I would still be satisfied with the knowledge that I affected that person with my words.”
Hafsah’s blogs are indeed very effective and touching, and her work is quite inspiring.
She also is the only girl among her 3 brothers, and makes a loving daughter and sister.
Although Hafsah loves learning, thinking, and philosophizing about a LOT of subjects, her favourite subject is biology (she is only in grade 11 but is finished taking this course), because she is fascinated by the systems which uphold our bodies and planet. Her favourite happens to be the nervous system. With a love for this particular science, she is considering entering medicine or veterinary medicine, both which she would excel in. Why? Well, as Hafsah says:
“If you are passionate about something, you will do well in it.”
Hafsah herself is full of life and passion. Not only does she love biology, but she also truly cares about issues in society, especially those of poverty eradication and helping Syrian refugees. Ever since she has come back from Pakistan, Hafsah has realized that she would really like to find the solution to poverty eradication. She recognizes that it is an extremely complicated issue which calls for an effective plan, and she says that if she ever brainstorms a solution she will share it right here on Youth are Awesome. While we were talking, she told me about her recent trip to her homeland, Pakistan, which she traveled to for a wedding (exciting!):
“I’d never actually been to a third world country until then. When I saw grandmas sitting on the streets taking care of babies, it touched my heart. When I saw little boys walking around on the roads selling balloons, it touched my heart. But the people who live there on a daily basis- they simply walk right by these sad sights, because they’re so used to seeing it everyday.”
Hafsah also mentioned that even if you give poor people money once, you won’t be able to make a truly significant difference. “It’s very difficult to be in a position where you want to help, but you really can’t. “
When Hafsah mentioned this, I was touched by it as well, and I was also inspired to ask her another question. It’s well known that as youth we hear about current events and sometimes we discuss them, but rarely do we ever actually get up and try to make a difference. Which is why I was in awe of Hafsah and her club to help Syrian refugees, which has arranged the successful adoption of 6 refugees already. (wow) I asked Hafsah what everyone else our age can do to make a difference when it comes to social issues which need to be addressed. In response, she told me a motto which she lives by:
(an excellent motto)
Now Hafsah has undoubtedly discovered her passion, but many individuals of all ages are still on the search. When I asked her how she discovered what she is passionate about, she answered:
“You know you are passionate about something when your thoughts wander to it a lot”.
Hafsah actually brainstorms ideas for her innovative blogs by simply sitting on her bed and thinking. Her thoughts inspire her to create unthought-of and creative posts, which we enjoy reading. Hafsah is constantly on her toes, kept busy by her courseload and extracurriculars, yet is able to put outstanding effort into everything she does. However, she is still a teenager, and like the rest of us, she sometimes procrastinates. But instead of letting the procrastination get the better of her, she takes advantage of procrastination! Basically, she procrastinates by doing other work, which leads to minimal procrastination.
“When I get off track and start to procrastinate, I immediately start doing something else productive. For example, if I am supposed to be studying and I start to procrastinate, I will go and work on a blog post.”
Hafsah is a role model for bloggers everywhere, including myself. (But when I mentioned this to her, she humbly stated that she does not see herself as a role model, but views others as role models for herself). When asked who she herself looks up to, Hafsah took a moment of thought, before stating these very touching words:
“It’s not the famous people or historical figures that most inspire me. They aren’t the poeple who I look up to the most. The people who I look to the most are normal people. They are normal, regular people who have struggled through lives. I look up to the grandmas on the streets of Pakistan who have had hard lives themselves, Just looking at them, I find courage in myself. If these people can do what they are doing, I can do what I am doing. Also, with my teachers, who come in every day exhausted, I am inspired. We just look up at them as teachers, but they are people. They have their children, their families, their lives. I can visually see my teacher being absolutely exhausted, yet she comes to school every day with such passion. So, yeah. Those are the people who I look to, every day of my life. They’re just normal, regular citizens.”
Hafsah also appreciates her parents, who immigrated from Pakistan, leaving everything behind, to raise her and her brothers in a safer environment. It was clear that Hafsah is able to embrace her family, something that many youth are unable to do until later. For example, many of us only learn to truly appreciate the presence of our parents when we are much older, and time is running out. So of course, I was curious as to how Hafsah has cultivated such a deep appreciation for her parents at such a young age. She told me a concept that she applies not only with her parents, but with people everywhere- the concept of understanding. To Hafsah, healthy relationships and a safe world is based off of understanding each other. If we put ourselves in other peoples’ shoes, and try to understand where they are coming from and what they are experiencing, it often opens our own eyes and allows us to be more forgiving and compassionate.
I had a wonderful time interviewing Hafsah, who is extremely worthy of the title of April Blogger of the Month 2016. Congratulations Hafsah- I am sure that you will accomplish all that you set out to do. Also, Happy Birthday once again!