Senior Profile: Semir I. ’26

As we count down to the end of the school year, we asked some of our seniors to tell us about their interests at Friends and how their experience has prepared them for the next step.

Semir I. ’26

Up Next: Emory University | Major: Finance and International Relations

Activities at Friends:  Friends School Investment Committee (Co-founder), Model United Nations, Muslim Student Union (Co-founder), Senate Co-President, Spanish Tutor,  Semester abroad at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership, Varsity Lacrosse (Captain), Varsity Soccer

Special Programs/Awards/Honors: Honor Roll, Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, and Scholar Certificate in Global Studies

What is/has been your favorite subject at Friends and why?

I would say that my favorite class so far at Friends is the one I am taking right now: Calculus II. There is a plethora of different reasons why I enjoy this math class, but the first one I'll talk about is Mr. Schlenger. The first time I had his class was in tenth grade for Accelerated Algebra and Trigonometry. I will say that this class personified the stark transition between freshman and sophomore year, but this challenge, paired with Mr. Schlenger's enthusiasm for math and teaching, made this class worthwhile. This energy continued into junior year in Mr. Schlenger's Math in Finance class, and finally Calculus II this year. As the material has gotten more in-depth and intricate, the class has felt more and more engaging. Being able to see real-world applications of concepts that seem so theoretical initially is a highlight in specific. And I would say the rigorous problem-solving environment present in every class, in addition to Mr. Schlenger's humor and enthusiasm, is the reason I would name Calculus II as my favorite class at Friends.

How do you think Friends has prepared you for your next step in life?

One thing I find special about Friends is the trust that the School gives to its students. Going to Friends doesn't mean you are just a student, but rather an active member of a thriving community. At this school, there are so many different ways you can make an impact in the community, and this all starts with Friends instilling trust and confidence that we, as students and community members, can make the change we want to see in our school and beyond. For example, I will cite a project I, along with my fellow club head, have been working on in the Finance Club. 

About a year ago, we brought an ambitious idea of a student-led investment fund of $20k to Christian Donovan, our Head of School. Walking into this meeting, we knew this idea of students managing such a large sum of money in the stock market sounded silly, but we still went for the shot. And what we thought would be met with skepticism was met with excitement. Although there were several kinks to work out with such an intricate project, over the past year, Christian, along with Mr. Haynes and other faculty, have helped us bring this project to life. This project has helped me in numerous ways, from networking with alumni to presenting at a board meeting, but it will also provide future Friends students with valuable skills that are easily transferable to college and beyond. And without that trust that the School has given me over the past 13 years, I couldn't imagine carrying out something like this in high school.