Photo Essay: A 9 Year Old Ismaili Boy’s First Steps of Becoming an Astronaut
Qayl’s Inspiring Encounters with Great Astronauts
Qayl Azeem Maherali pictured as an astronaut when he was 6. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
The picture above was taken three years ago. I am 9 years old now. I want to be an astronaut and an international soccer player. I have been interested in space all my life – well if you asked my dad, he would say since I was 1-year-old.
My interest in space has so far taken me to Kennedy Space Center – Florida (3 times), US Space & Rocket Center – Alabama (4 times) and the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum – Washington, DC (2 times). I am negotiating with my dad for a trip to visit the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. I am really excited about it.
Introduction
Exploring space, discovering and learning about what’s there and how to get there, is something that I am interested in. I wanted to write about stuff that I had learned and that had interested me from all my trips to NASA. I did not want to write a long essay, that is a lot of work. It had to be fun! I had to be creative! On my dad’s suggestion, I decided to do a photo essay with his help. After all, the Chinese proverb “a picture is worth a thousand words” made a lot of sense. So here is my contribution that I hope all readers, young and old alike, will enjoy.
By NASA definition, a Space Shuttle is made up of the Orbiter Vehicle (OV) – or Orbiter in short, + 2 Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and an External Tank (ET). Sometime people use Space Shuttle and Orbiter interchangeably. But the correct way to refer to it is Orbiter – when the fuel tanks are not present; and Space Shuttle – when the 3 fuel tanks are connected to the Orbiter.
OV – Atlantis: Up close & personal with my dada and dad. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
What: See Space Shuttle Atlantis real close (maybe touch it) and hopefully meet some cool Astronauts.
Where: Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida.
When: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 to Sunday, November 04, 2012.
Why: Tickle my curiosity: To explore and discover – see the things and people who went to space.
Who: My dada (paternal grandfather), me and my dad.
How: By car from Atlanta, Georgia, where I live, to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. MapQuest said 8 hours and 2 minutes, but my dad got us there much much faster.
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Astronaut Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr
Shaking hands with Astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr is an American Astronaut, and the second person to walk on the Moon. He was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history. On July 21, 1969, he set foot on the Moon, following mission commander Neil Armstrong.
It was a huge honor meeting Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon. He could have been the first person on the moon if he was sitting next to the exit door of the lunar module. That way, he could have been the first person to get out of the lunar module and the first one to set foot on the moon. Anyway, he really thinks we should try to go to Mars. He said he hoped and wanted to go to Mars, but doesn’t think that it will happen in his lifetime. He wants kids my age to make it happen – he says kids today are really smart and they will succeed if we keep working hard and dream big! I liked what he said.
After the handshake, talking about space travel to the Moon and Mars. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Fun Facts:
1. The nickname “Buzz” originated when he was a kid. One of his elder sisters mispronounced “brother” as “buzzer”, and the name shortened to buzz stuck. Aldrin made it his legal first name in 1988.
2. In one of his interviews, Buzz said: “We should go boldly where man has not gone before. Fly by the comets, visit asteroids, visit the moon of Mars.” It’s one of my favorite quotes! My dad keeps saying that this quote sounds familiar from some TV show.
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Astronaut Eugene Andrew Cernan
With Astronaut Cernan – the person to have stayed on the Moon the longest. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Eugene Andrew Cernan is also an American Astronaut. He has been to space three times: as pilot of Gemini 9A in June 1966; as lunar module pilot of Apollo 10 in May 1969; and as commander of Apollo 17 in December 1972, the final Apollo lunar landing.
I was excited beyond my imagination to meet the second Apollo Astronaut!!! What are the chances??? … I met one of the first people to walk on the moon and I met one of the last people to walk on the moon. First one and last one … how amazing!!! Cernan holds the record for being on the moon for the longest duration ~ 3 days (74 hours 59 minutes 40 seconds, to be precise). How thrilling it would be to go to the moon for the weekend!
Fun Facts:
1. Cernan is one of only three people to travel to the Moon on two different occasions (the others being Jim Lovell and John Young –- I hope to meet them in person someday).
2. Cernan is also one of only twelve people (I also hope to meet them in person someday) to walk on the Moon and the only person to have descended toward the Moon in the lunar lander twice (the first was Apollo 10’s non-landing mission).
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Astronaut Joseph Peter Kerwin
Listening to Astronaut Kerwin talk about RED. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Joseph Peter Kerwin is an American physician and an Astronaut who served as science pilot for the Skylab 2 mission from May 25–June 22, 1973. Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA and was the United States’ first space station. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems.
My meeting was really cool, because I thought I would only meet rocket people (test pilots and people like them, you know …). But this time, I met one of the first doctors in space! We talked about RED – no, no, not the color red … but Resistance Exercise Devise (RED). Dr. Kerwin developed this machine so that astronauts can continue to exercise in space (and stay fit) – which is important because in space with no gravity, our bodies lose bone density and muscle mass. Losing muscle mass is not good, especially for the heart. On the bright side, with no gravity or just microgravity (as in International Space Station or ISS) you can lift almost any weight – and pretend you are Superman!
Fun Facts:
1. Dr. Kerwin was the first physician to be selected for astronaut training.
2. There is an award named after him – Joseph P. Kerwin, M.D. Award. It honors the advancement of medicine in space.
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Astronaut Paul Joseph Weitz
Meeting Astronaut Weitz. Also, with Astronaut Kerwin in the background. Conrad-Kerwin-Weitz and the land based NASA team saved the unmanned Skylab 1 mission. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Paul Joseph Weitz an American Astronaut, who flew into space twice. He was a member of the three-man crew who flew on Skylab 2, the first manned Skylab mission, a 28-day duration. He was also commander of the STS-6 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle Challenger flights – the maiden voyage of the orbiter Challenger. Sadly, Challenger was lost in an accident shortly after a minute during its launch in 1986.
Weitz told me about the importance of the Skylab mission – to learn how to live and work in space for long durations. This was before ISS. Skylab was man’s home in space, like MIR (curious to know what it is … wait for the details in the next astronaut encounter). I like the name Skylab – it makes sense, a lab for doing scientific experiments in the sky.
Fun Facts:
1. Weitz may have also been assigned as the command module pilot for the cancelled Apollo 20.
2. Weitz and his two crewmates performed extensive and unprecedented repairs to serious damage the unmanned Skylab sustained during its launch, salvaging the entire Skylab mission.
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Astronaut John Elmer Blaha
Astronaut Blaha learned Russian to be able to work with Russian Cosmonauts and work & live on MIR. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
John Elmer Blaha is also an American Astronaut. He is a veteran of six Space Shuttle missions (Discovery (2), Atlantis (3), and Columbia) and a stay on the Mir space station. Sadly, in 2003 Columbia was lost in an accident when it re-entered the earth’s atmosphere.
I am finding out that Astronauts are so cool and very nice people – they are heroes! Astronaut Blaha was really generous to share some of his emails that he had sent to his wife while he was up in Mir. I was totally surprised when he emailed me the emails that he had promised to send me. What was incredible about him besides flying on the space shuttle 6 times was that he was selected to go to Mir – the Russian Space Station. He had to learn Russian quickly and be able to speak, read and write it so that he could work on Mir and communicate with his fellow Russian Cosmonauts (in Russia they don’t call them Astronauts, they call them Cosmonauts – I think that sounds very astronomy like).
Fun Facts:
1. Mir means peace or world in Russian – what a nice name. It was a space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001. Mir was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996. It held the record for the largest artificial satellite orbiting the Earth until that record was surpassed by the International Space Station (ISS) after Mir’s deorbit on 21 March 2001 – hey, that’s on Navroz day – the Persian New Year!
2. Blaha was not permitted to vote in the November 1996 election, because his mission on Mir began before ballots were finalized and lasted beyond Election Day. In response to his predicament, Texas in 1997 amended its election statutes to permit voting from outer space.
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Astronaut Robert Clyde “Bob” Springer
With Astronaut Springer. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Robert Clyde “Bob” Springer is a retired American test pilot and an American Astronaut. He is a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions, on Discovery and Atlantis – that’s my and my dad’s favorite orbiters, respectively. He has also flown with Astronaut Blaha – how do I know? Look at the Mission Patch, in the picture above – it has all their names on it.
I was fascinated with Astronaut Springer’s description of his space shuttle lift off experience, the first 9-10 minutes. I was impressed to learn that within 8.5 minutes after liftoff you were in space and flying 26 times the speed of sound (Mach 26). Now that’s fast!. I also know that you need a lot of speed and power to break free from the earth’s gravitational force … you need an escape velocity of 25,000 miles an hour – Now that’s what I call blazing fast! That means during lift off, the space shuttle is taking off at 34 times the speed of sound (Mach 34).
Astronaut Springer telling me how fast the Space Shuttle goes. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Fun Facts:
1. On the first mission, Springer’s team took more than 4,000 photographs of the Earth using special cameras, including the IMAX 70mm movie camera. I bet you these must be the images we see in IMAX space movies.
2. Springer’s other mission was classified. I tried asking him about it but he wouldn’t talk about it – I think he is really good at keeping secrets!
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Astronaut Mark Charles Lee
With Astronaut Mark Lee: Nice badge, sir …. when I was 1. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
… Enthusiasm from age 1, but not so quick, kid! Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Mark Charles Lee is also an American Astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions.
Mark Lee is the first Astronaut that I met when I had just turned 1 (see the two photos above). So I was thrilled to meet him again after eight years. Now, meeting him the second time, I was so excited that I forgot to really talk to him about space. Perhaps I won’t be forgetful during my next or third encounter with him.
… 8 years later. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Fun Facts:
1. Lee’s mission involved the launch of the Magellan probe, a Venus-exploration spacecraft.
2. Lee also has a unique distinction with the second flight: his wife (at that time, N. Jan Davis, a mission specialist), for being the first married couple to be in space at the same time. They had kept this a secret from NASA. The space agency has since changed the rules and will not allow married astronauts on the same flight.
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Astronaut and Scientist Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton
Looking for Astronaut Thornton mission summaries in my NASA hand book. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton (Ph.D.) is an American scientist and an American Astronaut with over 975 hours in space, including 21 hours of extravehicular activity (EVA = spacewalk). She has flown 4 times in space – Discovery, Endeavor (2), Columbia.
Astronaut Kathryn Thornton was on Endeavour’s first flight (maiden flight)! Endeavour is my little brother Riyaan’s favorite Orbiter. She was so kind and generous to give me a sign, that said: “Back in a while, gone space walking.” I have hung it outside my bedroom door. I also talked to her about how food tastes differently in space. I learned that it has to do with microgravity and how it affects our taste-buds. Interestingly, your favorite things to eat on earth may not be your favorite things to eat in space because they taste gross. I asked her what was the most popular thing that Astronauts liked to eat in space? The answer was shrimp cocktail – apparently, that’s also very popular with the Astronauts on earth. Next time, my mom tries to convince me to eat vegetables, I am going to tell her that she will have better chances of success if she sends me to space – where the things I don’t like on earth will taste better!
Talking to her about how earth food tastes different in space. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Fun Facts:
1. Dr. Thornton was a mission specialist EVA crew member aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-61 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing and repair mission.
2. STS-61 launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on December 2, 1993. During the 11-day flight, the HST was captured and restored to full capacity through a record five space walks by four astronauts, including Dr. Thornton. Then, after Expedition 14, Sunita Williams surpassed her for woman with the most spacewalks. I hope to meet Astronaut Williams when I go to Houston, Texas.
~~~~~
Astronaut Marcos Cesar Pontes of Brazil
A surprise meeting with the one and only Brazilian Astronaut, Astronaut Pontes. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Marcos Cesar Pontes is a Brazilian Air Force pilot and a Brazilian Astronaut. He went to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-8 rocket.
I was only expecting to meet American Astronauts, so I was pleasantly surprised to meet a Brazilian Astronaut. It was cool to learn that he not only completed NASA astronaut training but also completed the Roscosmos training (Russian equivalent of NASA). Although he did not get to fly aboard the Space Shuttle (after NASA put brakes on the Space Shuttle program following the Columbia disaster), he still made it to the ISS via the Russian Soyuz Rocket. Now that is epic!
Fun Facts:
1. Pontes is one of the most experienced jet pilots in the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and has flown for more than 2000 hours in 25 different aircrafts.
2. On March 30, 2006, Pontes became the first Brazilian and the first native Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) person to go into space, where he stayed on the International Space Station for a week.
~~~~~
NASA Launch Director Robert B. Sieck
Meeting Robert B. Sieck – NASA Launch Director and Director of Shuttle Processing. Photo: Qayl’s Collection © Copyright.
Robert B. Sieck is Director of Shuttle Processing at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. In this capacity, he is responsible for the management of all space shuttle processing and launch activities at the Kennedy Space Center.
As director, Mr. Sieck has worked with over 700 astronauts; first during the Gemini Program, then the Apollo and Skylab Missions and finally the Shuttle Program. He had really interesting stories to tell and I spent time talking to him the most.
Fun Facts:
1. Sieck served as Launch Director for 52 Space Shuttle launches.
2. Sieck’s long career at NASA gave him the opportunity to work in the various programs such as Gemini (Mission to practice space rendezvous and EVAs), Apollo (Mission to the Moon), Skylab (learning to live and work in space) and Space Shuttle (Mission using reusable spacecraft, building the ISS and living and working in space for long durations).
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FINAL THOUGHTS
This photo essay was a fun project – I learned a lot doing it. It took me a long time to do it. Can you imagine if I had done a written essay? It would have taken me even longer. I learned about planning and how to organize ideas. I am glad my dad helped me with it. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my interest in space.
Date posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013.
Copyright: Qayl A. Maherali. 2013.
__________________
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We are all proud of you, may you always have sunshines in your heart. 🙂 Best wishes from Québec, Canada.
” طفل صغير بأحلام كبيره ”
أنا سعيد جدا أن أرى طفلاً ينظر إلى مستقبله بوعي وأدراك لما يريد أن يكون عليه
تجاوز كل العقبات وأجعل حلمك حقيقه….ودعني أقول للناس أني أعرف رائد الفضاء هذا منذ كان صغيرا ً ….مع كل محبتي
إياس من سوريا
“a Little Boy With big dreams”
I am very happy to see a child looks to the future consciously and knows what he wants to be
Overcome all obstacles and follow your dream and make it a reality …. and let me tell people that I know this famous astronaut since he was young …. With all my love,
Eyas from Syria
Qayl, I’m amazed about how much you love space travel, if you haven’t please watch or read Cosmos by Carl Sagan, I’m sure you’ll love it 😉
(Spanish version)
Qayl, me sorprende lo mucho que te gustan los viajes al espacio, si aún no has visto o leído Cosmos de Carl Sagan te recomiendo que lo hagas, estoy seguro que te va a encantar 😉
We are all proud of you Qayl, may you always have sunshines in your heart. 🙂 Best wishes from Brossard, Canada.
Hi Qayl,
Your essay is very interesting and I hope and pray that you make it as an astronaut. Don’t ever give up on ur dreams and work hard. You will definitely succeed.
Hey SpaceMan ….Very Proud of you……Congrats…follow your dreams….I am very proud of you…my buddy’s son…keep it up…and all the best. Rgds Peeelot Nairobi , Kenya.
Lindo, inspirador, visionario, e futuro lider do espaco! Obrigado pelha compartilha. Acredito que um dia iras viajar ao espaco. Noreia (Portugal)
Qayl, SOS lo mas!! No me canso de leer esta composición! Nos demuestras tu madures con tu escritura. Seguramente cumplirás todos tus sueños! Te queremos mucho!
Familia Santoro de Rosario prov. De Sta. Fe, Argentina.
It’s simply Beautiful! Good luck! May your dreams come true and one day you will be an Astronaut. All the best!
Bonjour, un ismailien astronaute!!! quelle fierté pour nous ! je te souhaite de tout coeur de réaliser ton rêve.
Qayl. From one space travel lover to another, I wish you the best of success. With the determination and passion you are already showing, I have no doubt you will be making your own headlines from space. Never lose sight of your dreams.
Once you meet people on other planets, will you put me in touch with them? Thank you.
Wonderful to see such a passionate interest in “space”. Follow your dreams!!!!
Well done Qayl, great work and may Moula bless you, I also want to be astronaut like you in future, kindly suggest me some books regarding this field. With best Regards.
Thank you for the good wishes. Here is a link to a list of books … they are all good ones. http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9655.Best_Space_Books_For_Kids
Qayl, es impresionante que a tu edad tengas muy bien establecido lo que quieres ser y lograr, sigue luchando por ese sueño ya que solo así podrás lograrlo y qué mejor que con el apoyo y el cariño de tu padre que te ayuda a conseguir lo que deseas; la vida está hecha a base de retos y tú ya has comenzado con el principal. Quiero que en algún momento mencionen tu nombre y poder decir que yo leí el reporte tan excepcional que realizó ese astronauta a sus 9 años y que ahora veo en un viaje próximo a explorar el espacio. Mis más grandes felicitaciones y admiración para ti y tu papá. Sigue luchando y haciendo lo que te gusta sin dejar de lado la diversión. Mis mejores deseos.
Qayl, this is an amazing essay that can show us how people can make all things that one day they dreamed. At your age is greatfully that you know exactly what you want to be when you grow up. Keep fighting to become a great astronaut and I know with your dad’s help you can make it real. You ‘ve already started to do the things that you need, so don’t stop and keep walking on the same road. I ‘d love to say one day: I helped to this astronaut at his 9 age to had comments from different countries and I read his excellent essay and now I can see him on his first travel to the space. Congratulations and best wishes for you. Eloisa from Guanajuato, México.
Qayl,
I was still reading the second paragraph and I was already amazed with the passion you wrote.
I can see you are a true dreamer, one that work hard in the pursue your dreams. I will be happy when some day I listen someone talking about the astronaut Qayl Maherali.
(Spanish version)
Qayl,
Apenas estaba leyendo el segundo parrafo y ya estama impresionado con la emocion con que escribiste.
Puedo ver que eres un autentico soñador, uno que trabaja duro para lograr sus sueños. Estare muy feliz cuando un dia escuche a alguien hablar acerca del astronauta Qayl Maherali.
Hola Quayl. Estoy muy impresionado con tu proyecto. Has podido lograr conocer a personajes que son parte de la historia espacial. Sigue asi y estoy seguro que algun dia lograras tu sueno de ser un astronauta. Te deseo lo mejor.
Manuel Muradas
Enviado desde Mexico.
——————————————
Translation:
Hi Quayl. I’m very impress about your project. You have met people that will be part of the space history. Keep going on the right direction and I’m pretty sure that your dream of being an astronaut will become true. I wish your the best.
Manuel Muradas
Sent from Mexico.
Qayl good luck and may GOD shower hs choicest blessings on you. Really loved reading your photo essay and really impressed the way you have written it. It was very intresting n knowledge gaing for me. Hope to see you becoming a fullfledged ASTRONAUT. Dont you ever lose that focus keep going at it
Qayl,
I am so proud of you! Your passion for learning and making new discoveries will take you incredibly far in life. I am so excited to watch you learn and grow as an individual this year! I hope all your dreams and ambitions come true as you take each new step. Keep up the great work!
Ms. Totten
Excellent stuff, Qayal. I was curious as to why I never see you in Atlanta, but then I realized it’s because you’re on these amazing travels pursuing your dreams! Keep it up.
Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are
Is one of the first few messages that we send out to our children…you got it perfectly. Hugs to you and regards to your dad for helping you chase the stars so beautifully!!! Even sky is not a limit…so ‘ boldly go where no man has gone before’. All the best!!
Qayl good job!I hope your dreams come true!! Your piece is is 100% AMAZING!
Hi Qayl, I enjoyed immensely reading your essay, it really expresses your passion for the passion. Please keep it alive and you will reach your goals sooner than you think. Ask your Dad to send this essay to Richard Branson from Virgin – he might help you reach higher and faster !
Hugs from Portugal to the future astronaut !
José de Sousa
Hello Qayl, this is great, we are very proud of you.
This is simply AWESOME! I hope you will continue with your interest in space and fulfill your dream of becoming an astronuat.
Great job Qayl! Keep shooting for the stars!
Wonderful essay! This is very well written and you have some great pictures of many very important and fascinating people from man’s exploration of space. Keep up the great work and best wishes from Atlanta!
That was a great mash-up of some cool pics and great writing!!! Keep up the good work Qayl!!!
I like the pic where you grab the badge from Astronaut Mark Lee and his expressions!!!
Wish you well, in all your endeavors!!!
– Makesh(மகேஷ்) from Chennai, India
Great job Qayl !! Very proud of you. Your essay is great. Wishing you all the best and will pray for your success.
Great job Qayl !!! Your essay is very inspiring and educational. Hope all your dreams come true.
Dear Qayl, It was great for you to meet so many people who are doing a great thing! I really appreciate that you can share those pictures with us here. The all I can say is keep doing what you have been doing. Chasing your dream and never give up! 加油!你是最棒的!
谢林原 from changsha China
I am very very proud of you, Qayl! This doesn’t surprise me at all. I had definitely seen a great potential in Qayl last year and I see him doing great things in the future! I feel proud to have been his teacher. Both of you have made our Ismaili community proud and known in a positive way by fulfilling Hazar Imam’s dream. I wish you all the success in the future! Best Wishes!
Qayl very proud of you. Hope all your dreams come true.
Hey Qayl!!!
You worked hard, you deserve it, you have got it! Please accept our congratulations on this wonderful recognition of your merits. Our best to you always.
Good Job Qay!!! God Bless you and best wishes all the time 🙂
I am so impressed with your love and aspirations of becoming an astronaut. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the astronauts while I was working at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. It was called NASA Lewis Research Center. The name was changed after Senator/Astronaut John Glenn and now it is Glenn Research Center. Qayl, Good luck!
Incredible accomplishments Qayl. We are really awed by your essay. Hope and pray that your dreams and aspirations are fulfilled. Love ya. (Anvar Mama, Shy aunty, Alyna and Antalya)
What a fantastic way to start so early in life… knowing exactly what you want …Well, I pray for your success and wish you well in all your endeavour…Ameen.
I have known the Maherali’s for many years and this does not surprise me in the least. The dedication to education and living life with honor and strong work ethics that Qayl’s parents show their children (from the way the live their own lives) is inspirational. I am so very happy for Qayl and proud to know this young man is going to continue to make America a wonderful country. KUDOS to Azeem and Nims!
What a great job Qayl!! The photo essay captures your story so well and inspires a sense of overwhelming happiness and hope in the pursuit of your goals.
You are such an inspiration to us all. Continue to live your life with PASSION , ENTHUSIASM, RESPECT and DEDICATION. Stay true to yourself, follow your dreams and one day soon you WILL literally reach the stars. You have definitely found your purpose in life and I am positive that your Dad, Mum and Brother couldn’t be any more proud.
Sending you all the very best wishes from Melbourne AUSTRALIA 🙂 🙂
Awesome Qayl! I think you have the right companion next to you all the time, I mean your papa! Congrats and may all your wishes come true! Be patient and work hard and you can do that, I am sure, you will 🙂
Dear Qayl, you are blessed to have a father who is inspiring you and preparing you for your future well. Next, you should be pround of your self for thinking about your future. I am inspired from your aspirations. In the REC classes, you were very engaged in learning about the lives of Prophets and how they have guided us to the right path. Imam Sultan Mohammad Shah had mentioned and even few farmans of Hazar Imam have mentioned and I paraphrase, that going to the moon will not be a thought only. Which means we will be exploring moon just like we explore the Earth. I want you to know that you might be the one who makes this thought a reality for us. Inshallah! May Mowla assist you in achieving your goals, protect you and guide you to the right path. When we do get to go to the moon with you, Qayl, we will witness God’s mercy and explore the beauty of the universe. Good Luck my love!
Qayl……Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle ….. Good luck buddy.
Awesome Qayl, we have always looked to the stars with wonder, for inspiration and guidance. Reach for the stars, you will get there.
Wow Qayl, so proud of what you have achieved at such a young age. You don’t know who I am, but I am your parents friend and held you in my arms when you born!! You essay is fantastic and keep living your dreams, and Inshahallah you will be amongst the stars one day:)
Qayl — I really enjoyed this photo essay. That picture of you at 1 year made me laugh. It is very inspiring to see your progress throughout the years – keep up your learning sprint; I expect to see you inspiring even more people.
Qayl how awesome. I did not realize that you have met so many astronauts. Your paper is great!! We should count that for the 1st 9 weeks this upcoming school year for science specials. I hope you are enjoying your summer!!! Thanks for sharing this with me. I love that you know exactly what you want to do. You would make an amazing astronaut!!!! Looking forward to seeing you soon when school starts back up. Mrs. Greenblat
Good job Qayl!!! Very proud of you..
Very proud of you. You have inspired so many of us at such a young age. I know you are going to do great things in Life. God bless and best wishes for everything you do.
Qayl. I love your space quest. You will be world renown for your love of space travel. I believe in you. I can’t wait to get your autograph Astronaut Maherali.