A Star Among Us

A Combination of Talent and Passion

Youssef Talaat

Rafik Zaher was born on April 11, 1991 with a tennis ball in his hand. From that day forward, he never stopped loving the game of tennis. Rafik came to Schutz fifteen years ago and will leave a strong mark in Schutz’s athletic record. He joined every team the school had to offer and always fought for the school with passion and ardor. Outside school, he dazzled spectators, both in and outside of Egypt, playing his much-loved sport of tennis.

Being the quiet person that he is, Rafik is often misunderstood to be a lazy person. The truth is actually far from the aforementioned portrayal; Rafik is an extremely dynamic and intelligent person. However, his constant pursuit of several sports and his countless training sessions everyday make school seem like a place to lay back and relax. When asked, Rafik said that three words that best describe him are, "fun, smart, and athletic." He believes that his strong point is his determination. He also believes, however, that his bicep muscles are a weakness he must continue to work on with his friend Mahmoud. Rafik considers two very different people to be his role models: Roger Federer and Lil Wayne; Federer because he is the perfect tennis player and Lil Wayne because he shows the world the meaning of following your dream and influences many, many people.

Next year, Rafik plans to join his friends, Aly and Youssef, in Boston to study Finance at Boston University. He has already spoken to the tennis coach there and has earned a spot on the tennis team. Ten years from now, he hopes to be either a professional tennis player or a worldwide-known businessman. Either way, he would like to thank his parents for always supporting him in whatever dream he decided to follow.

Rafik will miss many things about Schutz, the most of which is talking to Massimo Laterza, the Dean of Students. He is glad, however, to be leaving behind the absence policy that has been a constant hindrance to his pursuit of extracurricular activities outside of school. He believes that Schutz has taught him many lessons the hard way. Rafik will truly miss school next year and would like to tell Schutz that "it will always be his second home." He would also like to advise the upcoming senior class to get started on their SAT’s and college applications because "it is a long and painful process!" Rafik Zaher has truly shined in his fifteen years at Schutz, and the Schutz community has nothing but high hopes for his future.