As the moderator begins to read a question about a historical figure from the 1700s during a Quiz Bowl meeting, the sound of a buzzer slices through the room. All eyes shift towards the source of the sound, and Tanay Sharma (12), looking straight ahead, gives a confident answer. After a few beats of silence, the moderator declares that Tanay’s answer is indeed correct. 

As an avid participant in Harker’s Quiz Bowl team, Tanay constantly advocates for more students to join the team. His curious nature led him to delve into various subjects, ranging from history to pop culture to literature, procuring new information that goes beyond the classroom curriculum. Tanay’s love for learning drew him to Quiz Bowl, but he credits the positive environment that the veteran members of the team fostered that encouraged him to continue competing with the club. 

“The seniors were always doing whatever they could to help others — not just about Quiz Bowl, but anything that we needed help with [such as] school work,” Tanay said. “I thought that was really cool of them. From them, I learned to always be helpful and look for answers wherever you can.”

Quiz Bowl not only introduced Tanay to new topics and ideas but also allowed him to grow closer to the people in his team, especially through the local and national tournaments that they attend. Saahil Thoppay (12), who has been friends with Tanay since middle school, admires his patience and dedication to his work as well as to the people around him. 

“One thing that’s unique about [Tanay] is that he’s really dependable,” Saahil said. “Even though he’s in a lot more advanced classes than me and a lot of people in my friend group, he’s still friends with us and helps us. He’s someone that will help you through a mistake no matter how long it takes.”

Tanay’s passion for exploring new topics extends beyond Quiz Bowl. He finds escape in the worlds of science fiction and fantasy novels, immersing himself in their imaginative landscapes and pondering the many facets of reality. One of his favorite series, “Foundation” by Isaac Asimov, particularly captivates him with its blend of mathematics and fantasy.

“I’ve always been a big reader,” Tanay said. “You can do whatever you want in books and you can see what’s not really real. It’s imagination put into words. A lot of science fiction is based on [reality] with only one thing changed. It’s cool to see how that type of thing would turn out if it was, in fact, possible.”

Over the years, upper school mathematics department chair Anthony Silk recalls listening to Tanay speaking enthusiastically about the books that he was reading. Not only does Tanay find pleasure in reading, he also uncovers valuable life lessons in the stories he encounters, which he applies to his day-to-day life. The myriad of characters and plots broaden his worldview and instill in him a greater sense of acceptance and forgiveness. 

“The cool thing in the books is science versus tradition,” Tanay said. “[The characters] use a lot of cool tricks to gain influence and power instead of just doing what’s been done before. I think that’s a good way to live instead of just following along with what’s considered normal.”

Aside from Quiz Bowl and books, Tanay’s friends play a central role in his life. He has built and maintained close relationships with his friends through his sense of humor and video games. Dilsher Dhaliwal (12), who has been friends with him since fourth grade, bonded with Tanay over their shared love of comic books. 

“I admire his ability to juggle his work-life balance,” ​​Dilsher said. “He obviously has a lot more work than me because he takes more advanced classes. But, he still has time for his friends and time for his hobbies.”

Through his witty humor and straightforward honesty, Tanay meaningfully interacts with those around him. Silk, Tanay’s advisor, has watched him grow from a timid ninth grader to a confident senior with a lighthearted and goofy personality. 

“[Tanay] gets along with everybody,” Silk said. “I have never seen him get angry. I’ve never seen him get frustrated. He is willing to listen and talk to anyone and he will share his honest opinion. He’s just generally a friendly guy.”

As he nears the end of his high school journey, Tanay Sharma (12) looks forward to discovering new avenues to pursue his interests and passions. From competing in Quiz Bowl to diving into fantasy worlds to spending time with his friends, he is determined to continue what he loves and delve into uncharted territories. 

“[During high school], I was able to branch out more and be more sociable and do what I want, rather than just bending down to the crowd,” Tanay said. “Before, I was going with the flow and not really doing my own thing. If you do the things that you think are fun, it’s going to be a lot more rewarding.”