Arif came from Jalalabad, Afghanistan to Silver spring, Maryland as a teen in March 2020, just a week before the national lockdown. The transition was not easy, including language barriers and isolation during the pandemic. Arif began thinking how he could make a difference in the school community.
Arif founded the Language Club, which focused on helping with assignments, supporting parent–teacher communication, and creating multilingual resources such as educational videos. This gave students a stronger voice and built bridges between families, teachers, and peers.
Arif also founded the school’s first Cricket Club, a sport that was not previously offered but had strong interest from the community. His goal was to bring students of all backgrounds together through a sport they loved.
