I still remember to this day that when I was asked to write an essay on a person I admired the most as the final task to conclude the semester in my 8th grade, I wrote about Aaliyan.

He was one of my classmates, and even my class teacher was surprised that while everyone wrote about either their parents, siblings or some celebrity, I chose a classmate. But to this day, if I were asked about an inspiring personality in my life at that age, it would still be him.

Aaliyan was a popular person not only in our class, but throughout the school. He was talented and participated in, and won, almost every competition, be it sports or academics. What added more to his personality was his friendly and funny nature. Some friends would even call him the class joker because often, when the teacher came to class late, he would stand in front of us and entertain us a riddle or joke.

No one could beat him in his sense of humour, and this is why he was the favourite of almost every student in school. But what made me admire him was not just this, but much more.

I remember it was right before the mid-term exams when the school announced the annual field trip to the zoo. Everyone was excited about it. Every year, the school took us to the National Museum, as it was free. However, this year, the students asked the management to take them to the zoo, with everyone paying for the ticket.

The trip was announced a week in advance and, as always, every group was buzzing with discussions about it — what to bring, what to eat, what to do and, most importantly, what to wear. Someone asked Aaliyan what he would wear and he replied that he wasn’t going on the trip. Everyone was surprised because they had assumed he would go, just like in previous years.

The reason he gave was that he needed to study for the upcoming exams. Everyone tried to convince him, but he stayed adamant about his decision, and eventually the students quietened down since they were out of ways to persuade him. The next day, the students requested the teacher to convince Aaliyan to go on the trip, as everyone knew it would not be as fun without him. Sadly, none of the teachers could convince him. The matter was then taken to the headmistress, since everyone, including the teachers and the head, wanted him to come.

When the headmistress asked Aaliyan to take the trip, he felt bad declining her and finally agreed. This sent a new wave of excitement among the students, and preparations started twofold. Eventually, the day of the trip arrived. Everyone gathered outside the school at 9 am sharp. Three big vans were arranged to take us to the zoo.

That day, I got a little late, and just as I got out of my car, I saw Aaliyan standing to the side, talking on his phone in a worried manner, while everyone else was getting on the buses. Instead of walking towards the buses, I went towards him, as I felt something was not right. When I asked him, he told me that his grandmother was not feeling well and that he had to go back home. He rushed to our class teacher and informed her. Everyone was reluctant to let him go, but since it was a serious reason, they had no option but to allow it.

As he started walking away, I asked him how he would go home, and he told me that he would take the bus. Since I knew the buses did not have a fixed schedule and he might have to wait for an hour, I offered to drop him off. My car was still there, as my father was waiting for me to get on the bus before leaving. Initially, he refused because he did not want me to miss the trip, but I kept insisting, as I sensed something serious at his place. When he saw that I was adamant, he reluctantly agreed and got into the car.

What I saw next was what truly made me admire him. When I asked for the address, he mentioned an area known for informal housing. When we stopped outside his house, he asked me to come inside out of hospitality. I initially thought of declining, but out of curiosity, I agreed.

Inside, I learned that he lived alone with his grandmother, as his parents had passed away when he was six. He worked hard in the evenings to put food on the table for both of them and to afford his grandmother’s medicines. In the mornings, he attended school while a neighbour looked after his grandmother.

That woman had called him because his grandmother had a high fever that day. I learned all this from his grandmother while he saw off the doctor who had been called for her.

As I came to know all this, I began respecting him even more than before. It was that day that I truly started admiring him. He lived such a hard life, yet still managed to put a smile on the faces of those around him.

He worked hard, never asked for a handout from anyone and, most importantly, never used his poverty as a crutch. He had declined the trip because he did not want to spend money on something like this, even though his grandmother wanted him to live like a normal boy for a day.

When I returned home that day, my perspective on life changed. I realised that not everyone was as privileged as we often assume. I spoke to my father and requested him to consider Aaliyan for a job at his company. Aaliyan declined when I discussed it with him, but I made him comfortable by agreeing that he would appear for an interview like all other candidates, and only if the recruiter deemed him capable enough would he be hired.

Since he was a very intelligent student, he got the job, and now, years later, he still works there, as the most experienced financial consultant in my father’s firm.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 21st, 2026