Nikhil to Soon Sing Goodbye to Schutz

Out to Take Over the World, One Song at a Time
By Farah Kashwa

We have all seen him around campus and we have all heard him sing his heart out during our school concerts. Nikhil Krishnan is always shy but if there is one thing he is not shy about it is performing and spreading his music across to a wider audience.
Nikhil was in a very different school before Schutz, a school that was “very strict and disciplined”, and they even had “to wear uniforms”. Therefore, coming to Schutz was a big change since Schutz has a no-uniform policy. Nikhil explained that “Schutz really does shape and prepare a person for his/her future.”
Nikhil really enjoys doing anything involving music in his free time. After finishing his homework and studies, of course, Nikhil can be caught playing the piano, listening to great musicians such as his idol, John Lennon, or even following in the footsteps of great musicians by making his own music.
He is a person that likes to live in the present and lives one moment at a time. As for what he will be doing 10 years from now, Nikhil can not tell. “Future to me is just like the other side of a wall, I can’t see it unless time allows me to” he explains his concept on the future.
Ten years from now Nikhil might not know what he will be doing but at least for the next four years he has it planned out. He has decided to attend the University of Alberta in Canada, but he is still awaiting the decision from his top choice university, National University of Singapore.
“I don’t have a role model, but I do have a hero: a musician named Bob Dylan” explains Nikhil, “his stuff was realistic, about tough lives you run into and how tough and hard this world is. I learnt a lot of lessons from his stories and I was able to relate to him much more than I ever did with anyone else.”
Music does not play the most important role in Nikhil’s life; his parents do. His parents affect each and every decision he makes and it turns out that most of the times they are right!
We all speak of what a great musician Nikhil will grow up to be and sometimes joke about how he will win Indian Idol. But for Nikhil, his musical career is still very much unknown. “No parent is crazy about their child’s musical dream. There is a high chance that it fails. However, I would still like to strive for it because I just love it and it is a good way to reach people”. If he does not go professional, then perhaps Nikhil will continue playing and making music as his favorite hobby and hopefully continue to grow as an artist. “So, yes. I would want to record for Columbia Records, my dream label, but that’s just a dream. Turning it into a reality is another talk. But hopefully it happens.”
In a few days, Nikhil will sign off as one of the most talented students we have known, but before he does, he would like to leave some motivating last words and advice to upcoming classes: “Just try your best at being yourself because everybody will want you to be just like them. We are all born to run, so do what you like and do something that can serve this world and its people, and make the most out of it.” Before Nikhil is permanently dismissed, he would like to thank a few people who made his stay here a little better, “Also thanks to everyone I came across here, especially Kelly and Mr. Collins who understood me when nobody here was able to.”

New York City’s Next Fashionista

Ingy Bids Farewell to the Place She once Called HomeBy Aya Kordy

Ingy Fahmy entered the gates of Schutz as a timid ECP-Half student, and, after spending a few years at the German School in Alexandria, she returned to Schutz in the third grade. At Schutz, Ingy embarked on a journey that led her to choose Regents American College in London, where she will major in Public Relations. This, however, will not be the end of her career. Bizoo, as she is commonly known, plans on earning a post-graduate degree in Interior Design and pursuing her dream of becoming an interior designer by opening her own firm and expanding it from Alexandria to Europe and New York City.
Even though she seems to have it all planned out, she can not see or imagine herself 10 years from now. She hopes she will be “happy and satisfied” with the life she will be leading with her family. Ingy believes Schutz has taught her everything she needs to know to prepare for the next stage of her life, adding, “I’ll be closing the door on my high school days confident that Schutz transformed me from a young naïve girl into a young woman with countless opportunities ahead of her.” Nonetheless, she considers her weakness to be her “extremely emotional and over-sensitive feelings towards things and matters,” and this can sometimes hinder her ability to judge or make certain decisions. Many people tend to think of Bizoo as a shy person. She agrees that she is to a certain extent. She quotes her friends saying, “People who don’t know you think you are quiet, people who know you wish you were.” Still, almost everyone who knows her realizes that she is “stubborn and emotional,” and that food plays a major role in her life. She is commonly referred to as Schutz’s princess for her blond hair and her rather elevated sense of style, being voted by students as most stylish for three consecutive years.
Ingy has left a strong mark on Schutz, but she believes that Schutz has left a much stronger mark on her. Her gratitude “comes down to a simple thank you,” even though she knows that it will never be enough. She hopes that she could one day return all that Schutz has offered her by making Schutz proud of her accomplishments. To Ingy leaves the following message to Schutz, “I will forever be indebted to you. I spent some of the best days of my life on your grounds and they will never be replaced. I cherish and love you with all my heart.” Looking back at her memories at Schutz, she finds it hard to pinpoint only one that she will always cherish. She will miss “the laughs shared in Miss Samiha’s classroom, the tears shed in graduations, and the atmosphere of the students sitting together and being in a classroom where so many things happen.”
Her last words of wisdom to the junior class are, “Do not be in a hurry to graduate. Trust me, when it keeps coming closer, all you would want to do is pause time and rewind it back to when you were a freshman, and start it all over again. Put yourself out there and experience every moment.” As Ingy bids farewell to Schutz and prepares for her adult life in London, she would like to thank her parents for shaping her into a confident young woman ready to take off into the real world. With that being said, I am confident that Ingy will face the world with great ambition and desire, startling us with all her future achievements in order to make Schutz delighted to have graduated such a thriving individual.

Still in Bloom

Kurt Cobain Was the Last One to Have an Impact
By Nikhil Krishnan

If you are driving in the city of Aberdeen in the state of Washington, you are likely to see a sign that reads “Welcome to Aberdeen – Come as You Are”. The sign refers to the 1991 song Come As You Are by Nirvana, intending to pay a tribute to the city’s son, the leadsman of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain. Cobain was probably the last acclaimed rock persona we have seen till now. Cobain’s prominent music, coupled with his ideals and heartbreaking life and death, has led to a massive cult following of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was born on February 20, 1967 at Aberdeen, Washington. Cobain showed an early interest in music when he first heard The Beatles’ classic Hey Jude and tried playing it on piano at the age of 4. His life soon turned upside down when his parents separated. He was treated as an outcast and was often severely bullied throughout his years at school. He soon dropped out of his high school two weeks prior to his graduation and was subsequently banished from his house by his mother. He would then live on streets or sneak into his friends’ houses to sleep.
Cobain was an ultimate music fan which was evident from the New York Times Bestseller Journals, a collection of journal entries by Cobain. He had an eclectic musical taste that ranged from 19th Century Blues music, 60s rock of The Beatles to Punk-Rock and Heavy Metal of The Sex Pistols and Black Sabbath. He also appreciated the then contemporary alternative rock bands such as REM and The Pixies in the late 1980s. He made several greatest albums’ lists which included Punk Rock, Folk and even Rap albums. His exploration of diverse genre sounds influenced him to find the ultimate sound for his band. His idol was John Lennon of The Beatles with whom he shared his political and social ideals.
Cobain met Kris Noveselic, who became his best friend and the bassist of his band Nirvana. The band played Grunge, a subgenre of Alternative Rock that was only known to Seattle. Following their locally successful debut album Bleach (1989), Nirvana replaced their previous drummer with Dave Grohl and received their breakthrough ticket by releasing the highly influential classic album, Nevermind in 1991. Nevermind consistently ranks as one of the greatest albums of all time, and popularized Alternative Rock and Grunge in the mainstream music. Nevermind spanned big hits such as Come As You Are, In Bloom, Lithium, and of course the classic teenage anthem, Smells Like Teen Spirit. Nevermind catapulted Nirvana into international stardom with Cobain being labeled as the spokesman of his generation. His lyrics infused his Buddhist-like ideals about freedom and peace with teenage desolation. He was, however, very uncomfortable with the fact that he was being misinterpreted and soon became extremely depressed. Nirvana went on to release In Utero (1993) which was noted for being different from Nevermind.
Kurt Cobain gradually got disgusted by the material world that surrounded him. He realized he could not change people’s minds and affect the world ethically with his music. He soon turned suicidal and shot himself on April 5, 1994. Since then, Nirvana has sold over 30 million records and made many milestones. Kurt Cobain has always been viewed as a revered person who tried changing the world but became a target of the world instead.

All Quiet on Schutz’s

Our Sen’10rs and 8th Graders Headed to Different Directions
By Hanna El-Amrawi

If there was one thing that our whole school can agree on, it is that the upper school campus seemed empty the beginning of the month of May. Am I right or not? Was it not a lot quieter on campus? It sure did seem that way. With the 8th graders off to hike Mount Sinai and the seniors off to Barcelona, it sure did seem a lot emptier on campus.
The 8th graders, who were chaperoned by the Spurlocks, left to climb the world’s famous Mount Sinai from May 14th to May 16th. They had a great time bonding with their classmates and getting ready for High School.
The seniors had another trip in mind. They headed off to Barcelona from May 16th to 18th! The twelfth graders were chaperoned by Mr. Robert Blankinship and Kelly Sullivain. It was a great way for the class of 2010 to reconnect and cherish some great memories before heading moving each in theri separate directions. Yaseen Moussa, a senior, felt that, “This was the best trip that I have ever been on, and I will never forget the friendship between all of us”. Barcelona, Spain 2010, was definitely a trip to remember.

Entertainment Corner

Movie Madness
By Farah Kashwa


The Ladies Are Back
Director Michael King decides to revive the ladies of Sex and the City and form a sequel, Sex and the City 2, which is sure to be another box office hit. In the sequel, the women are reunited together and share new adventures of both romance and friendship in an unforgettable journey to many places around the world. Once again they teach us the meaning of the high-society life of a socialite in New York City. So be prepared to get carried away.

Forever Finding True Love
Through forests, dragons, and evil kings, we have all found a place in our hearts for the green ogre, Shrek. Even though Shrek is bored in the beginning of the new movie, Shrek Forever After, the movie will not leave viewers bored after they discover what Shrek has done. Shrek has made a deal with the devil, Rumpelstiltskin, in order to make him feel like a real ogre again. What did Shrek’s wish get him in the end? Remember to be careful what you wish for, it might come true!

Time is Precious
Based on a video game, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, has been turned into a movie starring heartthrob Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal is a prince who teams up with a princess to stop an evil ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that can destroy the whole world. After being tricked to unleash the sands of time himself, the princess and he go on a mission to find the only thing that can save his kingdom and reverse his own fatal mistake, the Dagger of Time.

Opposites Attract
Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher team up for a romantic comedy and what a dream team! Kutcher plays a spy who is used to the European life of flashy sports cars and flashy women. But when he meets Heigl, a computer tech geek who is recovering from a bad break up, he falls in love with her. He then decides that he wants to give up his high-style life for becoming a family man. However, after three years of a happily-ever-after life, the couple learns that Kutcher’s character is the target for a multi-million dollar hit. Now, the ordinary couple is on the run for their lives. Can they both survive the professional hit men while also managing their in-laws? Watching Killers is the only way to find out!

The Talented Pianist

Gregory N. Leet Shares His Schutz Memories
By Hanna El-Amrawi

Gregory N. Leet, the Head of the Music Department, is one of those people who have been able to stay on campus for as long as we can remember. During the seventeen years of working at Schutz, Greg has never managed to call in sick! What an immuned man! I wonder what his secret cure is.
From a young age, Greg had a deep passion for music. He was the musical one in the family and he often preferred to stay home playing the piano, instead of hanging out with his friends.
Greg was born in Albany, New York, but grew up in Massachusetts. He later enrolled in the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Oberlin College in Ohio where he earned a degree in both Piano Performance and French Literature. After great determination and effort, Greg managed to get his graduate degree from Columbia University in New York City in Historical Musicology where he completed his M.A and Ph.D. After fulfilling his dream of attending one of the top universities in the United States, Greg decided to come back to Egypt. “Since there are no universities teaching music programs in Alexandria, I am fortunate enough to find a music teaching experience at Schutz “, stated Greg.
When asked what Greg’s most memorable moment is, he replied with, “It is difficult to pin down one most memorable moment at Schutz. But perhaps it can be any moment where it is clear that the students and I are engaged in the process of really making music”.
Lately Greg has been able to collaborate with various Schutz teachers in professional music activities and performances. Greg is pleased to have worked on the musical Bye Bye Birdie with Mr. Bob Medina. He states that, “The combination of music and drama, to me, is one of the greatest genres of art and when presented well, can give lasting, wonderful and valuable memories to the audiences and participants”. Greg has also been working with Ms. Nona Petrosyan, a trained opera singer from Armenia, who also speaks Russian. Ms. Nona Petrosyan and Greg have given numerous recitals during this past year. Last April, they gave a recital at the Russian Cultural Center in Alexandria. “It is particularly nice for me to accompany the Armenian sons, as I had never done that before. It reminded me of my days as a vocalist in New York City”, explained Greg.
We are glad Greg has decided to continue his stay with us at Schutz! We are so pleased to have such a talented musician on our Schutz staff.

Farewell to the Walshes

Yet Another Couple Has Decided to Leave
By Hanna El-Amrawi

The amount of teachers leaving by the end of this year is a surprise for everyone on campus. However, nothing is more shocking than the resignation of Mr. Walsh, the Upper School Principal, and his wife Ms. Jane Walsh, the Head Librarian. It was completely unexpected to have this couple resign after only being in Schutz for two years. Mr. Walsh explains that the couple was planning on staying for a third year, but then half way through the year many aspects changed their mind.
There are many burning questions on Schutz students’ minds, most importantly why this couple decided to leave. When asked this specific question, Mr. Walsh replied with, “ It is hard to answer this question, really it isn’t any one thing, it is just that I am not sure Schutz and I are a match, personally and culturally. He later added that he feels that his family is better off somewhere else, and that Schutz is better with someone else’s ideas and plans.
While Mr. Walsh feels like he has not made “a lot of changes in Schutz”, I bet every Schutz student can agree with me that, Mr. Walsh has brought about a dramatic transformation to the place. To name a few, a change in the quality of the canteen food, a ban on food delivery, the addition of the Falcon block, and a reinforcement of the absence policy.
Mr. Walsh started off his career studying Economics at Brown University in Rhode Island, where he met Ms. Jane Walsh. He was successful at juggling between school work, the wrestling team and the American football team at Brown University. However, with a major in Economics, he soon became more interested in Secondary Education. He began to pursue his career as a teacher in a public school in Rhode Island. Later on, he moved to Maine to work in a private school. While working in Maine for 18 years, the couple’s close friends got a job offer at the Cairo American College. A year after, the Walshes decided to go visit their friends and they “absolutely fell in love with Egypt”. “In a week we saw the Pyramids, sailed on a felukah, and dove the Red sea! Great place!”, explained Mr. Walsh. Upon leaving, the couple felt that Egypt was the right place for them. After a couple of work experiences at several different schools in the Middle East and Africa, it was time for the Walshes to enter the Schutz family!
Having worked in many different schools, Mr. Walsh feels that Schutz is different. “It has a lot of people that stay for a long time, whereas the other school, I worked at were more international”, he explains.
Having decided to put their teaching job on a hold, the couple has decided to possibly return to Maine, where the rest of the family will be waiting. The couple explained that, in their sixteen years of teaching abroad, they have really missed out on a lot of family events. Mr. Walsh adds that it is time for the couple to take a break, maybe a year off, but if the right job swings their way, then they will definitely give it a try.
Mr. and Ms. Walsh you will definitely be missed by the Schutz a family. We wish you a successful future!