BHS Outstanding Senior: Sahar Hussaini

Outstanding Senior: Sahar Hassaini

INSPIRE

After living in Afghanistan her whole life, Sahar Hassani came to America in March 2020. She spoke almost no English. Two years later, she has graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bayless and is attending Saint Louis University in the fall.

Thinking of your entire educational career at Bayless, what are you most proud of?

I am proud of graduating school as an outstanding senior and being admitted to the university I wanted with all scholarships and awards that I got. I did this while being new to the USA, learning English, and getting used to a new culture.

What are three of your core values you believe have led to your success?

The first core value for me is my growth mindset. I believe mindsets play a significant role in determining life’s outcomes. As Carol Dweck says: “Having a growth mindset (the belief that you are in control of your own ability, and can learn and improve) is the key to success.” I believe it so much. I try to grow my mindset every minute of my life by reading books, talking to people, discussing ideas, learning from others’ experience and having a thoughtful view. The difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful one is their mindset. Try to have a stronger mind than your feelings.

Having “SMART” goals in my life is the second core value that led me to my success. Having Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound goals in different stages of my life is important for me. I have big goals, starting from who I want to be and my purpose in life - to small goals for my everyday life. I have short-term, long-term, personal, and educational goals that I have plans to achieve. I believe by having goals in your life you understand where you are going and why you are going. Having goals will help you stay focused. I put my goals first. I am trying to pursue them relentlessly. If my goal is to write an essay on this specific time - then I will plan to do it and that would be the first thing I value and nothing can distract me from doing it.

Having goals and planning to achieve them is thoughtful, but what makes it possible is to take action - which is my third core value. I always tell myself ‘what the mind can conceive, it can achieve.’ Always believe in yourself and do everything with confidence.

When you take action, do it with passion. Enjoy what you are doing and enjoy the way of achieving your goals. It gives your life meaning. Put effort into your actions. Do it with excellence, do the best you can.

What are your plans for the future?

I am planning to study business marketing for four years at Saint Louis University. I am going to minor in art. I am an artist and plan to start my own business. My goal is to start a small business with my artwork in 2026, and expand my business into different sectors, not just art. My future long-term goal is creating an international humanitarian organization in 2029 with a mission to relieve the suffering of those in need and create a better world for all. I am also planning to write a book about my life story in 2028 to inspire others.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of myself for being strong, focused, confident, positive and never giving up. I did it in Afghanistan where there is lots of gender inequality and so many other issues – and in new situations here in the USA where I had to learn a new language, culture and everything.

How would you like to be remembered?

I want to be remembered as a successful business woman who helped the world by helping people who are in need - especially those in war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, minorities everywhere, and in other parts of the world that need help like Africa. This would include basic human needs and providing education.

One of Sahar’s artworks. She plans to start a small business centered around her art in 2026.

What quote do you try to live by? “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” -Jennifer Lee.

What’s the best thing about Bayless?

I believe Bayless School has some of the best teachers. It has teachers who have a growth mindset that not only teach the classes in a great way, but also help students to learn how to have a better life and grow as an individual person with a good personality.

If you could change one thing in society, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about society it would be people’s mindset. A society with a growth mindset can make a big change in the world. I would focus on students’ mindsets and how they can control their ability and learn, instead of focusing on their grades. A society with a growth mindset would remove racism, injustice, poverty, oppression and war because people are thoughtful about whatever they do and how they act.

What advice would you give future Bayless High School students?

To the future Bayless High School students, high school is one of the first steps for your future goals. For each, have a goal that you are coming to school and plan what you are going to do that day to achieve it. It might seem boring, but it’s better than coming to school and not knowing what to do and overthinking or stressing about different things. Set a goal for that year. Try to achieve it and enjoy the journey.

Also, friends make the school fun. Take it easy and have fun as much as you can. Just know that not all people around the world have the opportunity to go to a safe school and learn – we are so blessed. Be nice to other kids at school; everyone is dealing with something in our lives. Bayless has a lot of different people from different countries - learn from their thoughts and experiences.