Zahra Rohaninejad ’25 came to Castilleja as a nervous new nine. She is now leaving the school as a grateful, humble and joyful senior.
Rohaninejad started at Casti being unable to step into other people’s shoes: “I was very sure of myself and my opinions. It makes sense for a kid. They usually think the world revolves around them.” So, she set out to improve her sense of empathy. During her four years at Casti, Rohaninejad actively sought to listen to others and accept them for who they are and how they think.
Not only did she learn how to empathize with others, but Rohaninejad also learned how to find real friends. In her words, “Friends are people who support you even when you’re at your lowest.” She thinks that real friends aren’t the ones who only stay around for the good times. They’re there for you when you need them, supporting you always. Rohaninejad mentioned how grateful she is for the amazing friendships she has fostered during her time here, as she has been blessed with many memorable moments with her peers.
One of Rohaninejad’s favorite traditions at Casti is the tie ceremony. Being a new nine, the tie ceremony was her first introduction to her grade. “I found it very welcoming that the seniors ran over to tie the freshmen’s ties,” she said. She still remembers the senior who ran to her and the pep talk she gave her while tying her tie. “Every year since then has been the beginning of a wonderful year,” Rohaninejad said. She also emphasized the full circle moment she felt by the time she became a senior: “Getting to tie freshmen’s ties was a great experience.”
An interest Rohaninejad has explored the most during her time at Casti is her affinity group, as well as DEIJ as a whole. Being Persian, she has found that representation is very important to building a community. Being a member of the Middle Eastern Affinity Group has also allowed her to talk about issues in the Middle East and collaborate with other affinity groups to talk about multi-country issues.
After graduation, Rohaninejad plans to study government and economics in college while enjoying her time on the East Coast. She is also considering pursuing Middle Eastern studies, a subject she is very passionate about. As for work, Rohaninejad hopes to keep her options open. She wants to explore what is possible and go deeper into areas she loves learning about. Walking out of Castilleja, Rohaninejad is set up to thrive in college and succeed in whatever she chooses to pursue. Her growth mindset and positive attitude will take her far.