Walking forward, Reza Jalil (12) steadily grabs the pull-up bar in front of him. Pulling his arms up, he braces himself for the next move. He slowly pulls his arms back down to his chest line, swaying back and forth. He repeats this movement a couple times, immersing himself deeper into the flow of his workout routine. With each repetition, he feels the familiar burn in his muscles, a sensation he’s grown to embrace over years of dedication to fitness.

At age six, Reza started playing basketball after his uncle introduced him to the video game, NBA Jam. Already inspired by basketball player Ray Allen, the video game further pushed him to try out the sport. After finding out he enjoyed playing the sport quite a bit, ​​Reza immersed himself in the world of basketball for over a decade, particularly enjoying the rush that comes from the game’s victories.

“It’s just satisfying to either see my team win or have myself win,” Reza said. “It’s that dopamine when you make a shot. I think my feelings depend on it because it’s between friends. If we’re playing one on one or we’re playing other basketball games, then there’s a little competition between us. Then every shot matters because otherwise I’m gonna hear this for the rest of my life.”

In his sophomore year, after experiencing multiple injuries, Reza decided that the risk that came with basketball would be too severe, so he decided to pursue regular workouts instead to keep an active lifestyle. His dedication to fitness stems from a desire to progress, specifically within physical fitness and strength training. 

“I was in seventh grade and my friend was like, ‘hey, do a pull up,’” Reza said. “I tried doing it and wasn’t able to. In my mind, I was like ‘oh my God, that’s so bad.’ He then told me to do a push up. I couldn’t do a push up in the seventh grade. So I was like, something’s gotta change. So then I started hitting the gym.”

Beyond the physical benefits, Reza finds solace in his workouts. The gym serves as a space for introspection, allowing him to gather his thoughts, listen to music and focus on self-improvement. His commitment to fitness extends to almost daily sessions, which showcases his resilience and determination when it comes to exercise. 

“When I was going into freshman year, I hit a 200 pound bench press,” Reza said. “My dad watched it and he was so proud of me and it’s a great memory. Working out gives me a sense of resilience, and it definitely has given me a sense of, if I’m doing bad at something, there’s always a way I can progress and be better at it, even if it takes a long time. Progress is progress.”

Understanding the importance of progression in Reza’s life, close friend Vardaan Ghai (12) sees how much Reza works to change himself for the better. He notices that Reza makes time to change for the better. 

“He often internalizes, asking ‘what’s important to me and how am I going to take the steps to actually make this change?’” Vardaan said. “He just becomes more introspective and understands what’s important. He’s actually acting on it versus being like, ‘oh, I wish I had good grades.’ He’s doing the steps and making progress to make sure he’s a really good student in school.”

As well as valuing progress, Reza is capable of balancing his work and activities. Close friend Alex Guo (12) often sees Reza’s ability to move forward while also taking the time to do things he enjoys.

“Reza’s unique in the sense that we hold each other accountable for going to the gym and stuff,” Alex said. “And so there’s that aspect of it, but we also can completely let loose and be our true selves around each other. When you get to know him a little better and you see him in other situations, it’s fun to be around him and let go with him.”

While Reza takes time to relax and hang out with his friends, he still contributes to making his community a better place. Upper school AP World History teacher Mark Janda and adviser of the Muslim Student Affinity Group experiences Reza’s strong leadership abilities.

“He came to me to ask if I would be the sponsor for the Muslim Student Affinity Group, and to me it demonstrated depth and leadership,” Janda said. “It showed me that sometimes, kids who are known for their humor and big personality don’t get credit for that. Seeing that side of him, and seeing him step into that kind of leadership role and make our school a better place, and bring like minded kids to talk about their faith and practices, is hands down my favorite memory of him.”

Through his hard work and dedication to the gym, Reza understands the impact of staying active as it helps not just the body, but his mind and spirit as well. He recognizes that his journey to self-improvement does not solely consist in the amount of muscle gained or calories burned, but in the sense of well-being and clarity that accompanies each step of the way. Through perseverance and commitment, Reza has not only transformed his physique but also cultivated a resilient mindset that he applies to his everyday life. 

“When I get back in the gym, I’m gaining a lot more muscle and I feel, ‘man, I should go back more, and I should work harder than I actually am’. If you’re someone who’s never worked out, if you start working out, you’ll start feeling a lot better mentally,” Reza said. “I don’t know how to explain it, and it’s probably something to do with serotonin or endorphins, but it makes you feel more concentrated and allows you to enjoy yourself a little bit more.”