Maziar Ziai (’25) dives into a spreadsheet recording the closing prices of various equities listed on American stock exchanges. After extracting a few relevant values, he runs a linear regression to determine the riskiness of a few assets and ascertain if they’re worth investing in. Focusing on tech stocks like Apple, he identifies multiple companies that could have promising returns in the future.

Maziar became interested in finance and economics in high school since he wanted to learn more about how and why people spend their money. He initially found economic theory to be overly abstract because high school economics courses often emphasize concepts that don’t perfectly map to the real world. However, Maziar quickly realized how economics could be used to help people solve real problems through working on projects that focused more on its applications.

“I really thought economics was a very theoretical field because it’s taught from a very theoretical perspective,” Maziar said. “When you do big projects in class and actually start applying it, you start to realize that it’s very applicable and that it’s not limited to theory.”

Since economics focuses around people and their interactions, Maziar also came to appreciate the value and importance of consultants who help organizations manage these factors. Economic consultants often advise companies on market dynamics and product strategies, and Maziar has enjoyed studying these topics in academic settings.

“Consulting highlights how economics is a very social discipline because your job is all about talking to a range of people and different businesses,” Maziar said. “I like the idea of being able to work with different clients and helping a bunch of small companies.”

Shivraj Panja (’25), who became friends with Maziar in frosh year, admires how Maziar’s longing for knowledge helped lead him to his interest in economics. Furthermore, Shivraj highlights Maziar’s inquisitive nature and his dedication to further pursue the subject.

“His whole personality is about being curious,” Shivraj said. “He’s very intellectual because you could be just talking about something random, but he always finds a way to say something or ask a question. He wants to pursue higher education in economics so he can help people, and he has a very open mind about what that could mean.”

Maziar’s desire to aid others also makes him a reliable friend, according to close friend Daniel Dorfman (’25). Daniel met Maziar in first grade and notices how Maziar has matured, becoming more thoughtful and compassionate throughout high school.

“He’s a great friend and is always willing to help if you have a problem; you just need to reach out and he’ll be there,” Daniel said. “He’s just genuinely always been there as a very stable source of support. He doesn’t take life too seriously, but he’s also more responsible than before.”

Maziar’s interpersonal skills have profoundly impacted those around him, including Shivraj. Shivraj acknowledges that being around Maziar has changed his general attitude towards life.

“I’m a little more perceptive when it comes to what’s around me,” Shivraj said. “I’ve been really focused on STEM for a while, but I have more open views now. Even when it comes to stuff like politics, he’s helped me learn more and be more aware about what’s happening.”

Being thoughtful and welcoming has also helped Maziar in his role as a leader of Harker’s Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA). MESA creates spaces for students to discuss topics related to the Middle East, and Maziar has helped ensure that it’s possible for students to voice their opinions on controversial subjects.

Whether through studying economics, building friendships, or cultivating cultural connections, Maziar’s time at Harker has been characterized by meaningful social interaction. Maziar finds himself thinking fondly of his high school experience when reflecting on it, knowing that he’s helped others make decisions and engage in more thoughtful ways.

“I want to be remembered for being a good leader on campus,” Maziar said. “As a leader of MESA, I facilitate discussions about the Middle East. Although it’s a pretty contentious area, I’m proud of how we’re able to have a safe space where nobody has any problems with anyone else. Right now, that’s obviously not easy, but just being able to do that in a school environment is great.”