Senior Spotlight: Abeer Khatib

By Teanir Yusuf

1. Tell me about yourself. When did you come to PVS?
​My name is Abeer Khatib. I’m half Jordanian, half Palestinian. I came to PVS in 2011 as a Pre-K student and have been here ever since.

2. How has attending a Muslim private school shaped your identity and values?
Attending a private Islamic institute from a young age definitely made me keep my religion as a top priority. I am grateful to my parents who put me and my siblings in PVS and kept us here till the end because I had so many wonderful experiences growing up - from the hajj simulations to the field days and the pep rallies. PVS taught me so much as well as the fact that we can still have fun in the process of learning. Although this school isn’t perfect and could use some work, I’m glad I was raised in an Islamic environment here at Pleasant View School. Alhamdulillah I was here through it all and am finally graduating this school year.

3. What are your future goals, and how do you see yourself achieving them?
I honestly don’t have it all figured out yet but I’m thinking about studying optometry. I’m planning on taking my prerequisites at UofM and then applying to a college that specializes in optometry.

4. If you could pick any Quranic verse, hadith, or quote that could describe your experience at PVS what would it be and why?

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
So, surely with hardship comes ease. (Surah Ash-Sharh - Ayah 5)

I know people hear this ayah a lot but this verse will help you keep a good mindset. For me, being at PVS was like riding a rollercoaster, but keeping this ayah in mind helped me get through those tough days at school. Maybe you fought with a friend, failed a test, or just had a bad day in general, just stay patient and keep your faith and trust in Allah because, at the end of the day, he will reward you with what is good whether you realize it or not.

5. What advice do you have for the underclassmen?
Choose your friends wisely. Befriend those who you can make memories with that you’ll look back on and not be regretful of. Don’t let anyone get in the way between you and Allah nor ruin your image with others. Don’t push your education to the side and focus solely on having fun. Find a balance between the two and enjoy your school years while you still can because at the end of the day, everybody will eventually graduate and you may part ways with who was once your most cherished friend.

6. What is the worst and best thing about being a senior?
Graduating. I’ve been in this school so long that it’s like a second home to me. I’ve watched people come and go, I’ve seen my classmates grow into who they are today and it’s sad to say that once I graduate I’ll probably hardly ever see them again. I don’t have much experience out there in the real world with people who don’t have the same religious values as I do nor do I know what’s in store for me, but at the end of the day, whatever Allah wills is what’s going to happen. At the same time, I am very excited about graduation and starting a new chapter in my life. It feels as if I’ve been waiting forever. Seeing my siblings move on with their lives after graduating has me excited to see how my life will turn out. I don’t like change but everybody grows eventually and some turn out better than who they are today. With that being said, I’m thankful for those who gave me life experiences and those who I shared happy moments with. I truly cherish all those memories and wouldn’t trade them for anything.