Senior Spotlight: Wissal Boudaoud

Tell us about yourself.

I would like to answer this question with four fun facts:

• Many people already know that I love playing soccer, but reading is also another one of my hobbies.

• Although, as a Muslim woman, some of my goals may seem impossible, I am determined to make my dreams a reality.

• One of the main reasons I want to be successful is so that I can show my parents how grateful I am for all the hard work they’ve put in for my brothers and me.

• Though my mom says otherwise, I do have good memory; sometimes it just needs to load.

What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?

Most people, myself included, put a lot of effort into trying to be successful so that they live a happy life. People also usually have other reasons for wanting to achieve success. As I mentioned earlier, wanting to be able to show my gratitude for everything my parents have done for me is another motive for me. Also, the stories of people who defy the odds inspire me, and I would love to do the same.

How do you intend to use what you have learned in PVS to benefit you as you go through life?

I was fortunate enough to spend 13, soon to be 14, years at an Islamic school. Being in an Islamic environment during the ages at which a kid’s mind is most vulnerable to outside influences had many benefits. As I get older, the things I’ve learned at this school will help me in many aspects of life, from spiritual to behavioral. I am also looking forward to using what I learned during the past 13 years to help clear misconceptions about Muslims and Islam in the outside world.

What advice or suggestions do you have for the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in highschool that would help them prepare for their senior year?

Something that would definitely be helpful is to finish writing your personal college essay before your senior year so that you don’t have to worry too much about it later. (Advice given to us by the amazing Mrs. Jennifer. Did I listen to her advice? No. Do I regret it? Yes.)

What is one thing you will miss about PVS when you graduate?

Among the many things that I will miss about PVS when I graduate is the family-like feel it has. Virtually everyone knows each other, and the close-knit community there will always be one of my favorite things about the school. A thief named Corona sadly robbed me of the full senior year experience there. Though online classes do have its advantages, zoom just isn’t the same.