Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Student leaders of the International Indian School - Jeddah (IISJ) are exemplary models for tens of thousands of their schoolmates in many respects. Hurairah Chorghay, the head boy, and Tamarah Gaznafer Khan, the head girl, are stepping out of the IISJ campus with a smile after leaving behind an amazing trail of successes and accomplishments. Their farewell speeches, greeted by a standing ovation from the packed auditorium of the IISJ Boys' Section at Thursday's annual graduation ceremony, were the epitome of their excellent track record. It was not strange that the podium for the last manifestation of their “talent show” was the first rostrum from where they climbed the ladders of excellence – the auditorium of IISJ boy's section. Chorghay put it in the beginning of his speech: “It was never easy to come here for the first time, and not at all easy and perhaps it is more difficult to come here for the last time. When I spoke on the stage for the first time I stopped in the middle of my speech because I was afraid to step up here and now it won't be a surprise if I don't stop because today I am afraid to step down from here.” His concluding words were also catching: I don't want my emotions to be translated into tears; I want them to be translated into smiles. Signing out, logging out, and deactivating my account as the Head boy of IISJ…” For Chorghay, love of others was the inspiring force to become a student leader. “Since promoted to 10th class I have been asking Allah only for one thing. Put in my heart the love for others and in others' hearts love for me.” This objective inspired the intelligent and charismatic boy to take a leading role in launching student organizations for the cause of peace and love in the school. This was the basis behind the foundation of IISJ Peace Club for spreading peace in new and innovative ways, he said. According to Chorghay, spreading the message of love and friendship is the core value of working behind the movie titled “The Frenemy –Your enemy in disguise.” Chorghay is the director and main actor of the movie, which tackles issues that greatly affect teenagers, like the steep fall into depression and bad influences. “This is an eye opening account of a student with one face of a friend and another of an enemy. A true representation of modern friendship,” he said. Chorghay was also behind the campaign titled “Together We'll Donate” to help the orphan students to pay their fees. “We organized IISJ Hadith Club to highlight the significance of adhering to ethics and morals as advocated by the Prophet (peace be upon him) among students of 31 classes in the 9-12 block. I am also blessed to be the President of IISJ Gavel Club which is associated with Toastmasters International for improvement of speaking skills.” Chorghay had also a leading role as part of the 250 IISJ student volunteers who served pilgrims in Mina and Arafat during the last Haj. Chorghay, who hails from Mumbai, the commercial capital of India, wishes to scale ladders of a profession in the Islamic banking industry. The teenage leader becomes philosophic when he shared his ideas with the audience: “I would like to become a reformer in Islamic banking and finance. Islamic Banking has tremendous growth prospects …The need of the hour is not fulfillment of the desires of the rich rather it is the satisfaction of the needs of the poor and needy. Economic inequality is expected to rise indefinitely in the future and so my ambition is to enable advancement of credit to individuals on easy terms in congruence with the Shariah law by equipping Islamic banks with proper financial tools and instruments.” Tamarah from the southern Indian city of Bangalore also wishes to hold a key position in commercial sector after taking accountancy for graduation. She was the topper in commerce among boy and girl students in the Gulf Sahodaya 2013. Tamarah's passion for sports won her several accomplishments and eventually catapulted her to become the captain of the school's Blue House. She was part of the girls scout for the past four years and represented the school in the cluster meet for five years. She won gold medal in shot put and discus throw, in addition to a position holder in throwball tournaments. Tamarah has also proved her talent in Qur'an recitation competitions. While reminding her fellow schoolmates that it is in this very institution that they have learned to spread their wings and soar high in the sky of excellence, Tamarah advised them in her graduation speech: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us… Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Remember wherever you go, no matter what the weather; always bring your own sunshine.” She concluded her speech leaving behind some nostalgic feelings: “It is time to leave this school and take on the journey to our future. But a part of us will always remain here.”
