An Exceptional Past Leads to a Future of Opportunities

Youssef Talaat Prepares for a Life of Success

Aly El Attal

Ten years ago a shy little boy came to Schutz for the first time. When he entered the third grade classroom in the Pharos campus for the first time, Youssef was filled with fear and a lack of confidence. Little did he know that he was to become one of the leaders of this school.

Youssef Talaat has been a member of the Schutz class of 2009 since 2000. Before settling in Schutz, Youssef attended Kaumeya Language School for 2 years and the American International School (now the American School of Alexandria) for 3 years. Since his arrival at Schutz, Youssef has maintained an outstanding academic record and has filled three officer positions in the High School Student Council.

Despite having such an impeccable resumé, Youssef does not plan on stopping there. He is planning on joining his siblings in Boston next year where he will study Finance and Entrepreneurship at Babson College, a prestigious college on the outskirts of Boston. Youssef is also planning on acquiring a master’s degree after gaining a few years of experience in what he calls "the real world."

As a person who thrives on planning ahead, Youssef has a deeper vision on where he will be in the future. Ten years from now, he sees himself working in his family’s business and having a family of his own. Youssef believes that his cleverness and wit are what keep him moving forward, but he admits that his impulsiveness is his main weakness. However, based on his past actions, it can be said with great confidence that Youssef will overcome his weakness and succeed.

Youssef is one of the people who can be considered as "in the spotlight" of the school. He is not one who shies away from trouble or settles for the average, and that is due to his ambition, a quality of his that may not be very obvious. Youssef cherishes that quality because he believes his late grandfather, who he considers his role model, possessed. He added that his grandfather "didn’t let anything get in the way of his determination." Youssef considers himself a "tough, smart, and compassionate" person.

Leaving a school is never an easy thing to do, especially when it comes to a close-knit community like that of Schutz. Youssef is one of the many people who will miss the family atmosphere in school, and even though it might sound like a cliché, he really believes that, "Schutz is family." The ten years he has spent at Schutz have created a lot of memories. The one he remembers the most is when many students boycotted the canteen and brought food to share with their peers. On the other hand, Youssef is glad that he will be leaving behind all the schoolwork that comes with a challenging high school. When asked what Schutz taught him about life, he responded by saying that it taught him that, "Life is not always about winning; there are invaluable lessons to be learned from defeats." He believes that this is one of the many lessons that Schutz taught him. He would like to show his appreciation by telling Schutz, "Thank you for preparing me for life."

His senior year has proven to be quite valuable for him. He would like to pass on his wisdom to the junior class by recommending that they do not cram their college applications. He would also like to thank his family, friends, and school for making him the person he is today. He is expected by the people in his community to become the great man that he is destined to be.