The World According to Zead
Senior Zead Husain tells The Classic his THHS story
Image made using Canva. Photo by Ryan Chen.
Image made using Canva. Photo by Ryan Chen.
This year, The Classic has created a questionnaire meant to give readers a window into the thoughts and experiences of various members of the Townsend Harris community.
For the second edition in this Classic conversation series, senior Zead Husain responded to The Classic's multi-question challenge, sharing his thoughts on everything from cafeteria food to his favorite FON.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Conversation
The Classic
What do you most look forward to during the day?
Zead Husain
Being social and being a ball of joy.
The Classic
If you can change one thing at Townsend Harris with a wave of a wand, what would you change?
Zead Husain
I would change the phone policy for sure because I need to use my phone, and I like texting my friends in class.
The Classic
What is your favorite place to study or work and why?
Zead Husain
Well, as of now, it's the third floor because I feel like it really represents my energy. But if I were to pick, I'd say in the library on the couch.
The Classic
You said the third floor represents your energy. How does it represent your energy?
Zead Husain
Now that I am finally a senior and the third floor is a senior floor, I just believe being a senior comes with many privileges such as the third floor.
The Classic
What's so special about the third floor?
Zead Husain
It just holds a place in my heart that I can go to when I have frees.
The Classic
What's your favorite cuisine?
Zead Husain
Indian.
The Classic
What is the single best thing that you can eat in NYC?
Zead Husain
Chicken over rice.
The Classic
What's something you would want people to know about you that they might not know or find out too easily?
Zead Husain
I'm actually a very friendly individual, and I'm a very happy individual too. I'm always open to make new friends. Oh, and I'm like D1 in like a lot of sports. Not D1, but almost D1.
“I'm a strong believer that projects, group projects are a great way to learn. Everyone, you know, chips in and when they present projects, it's just more fun learning that way instead of the teacher just standing in front of class."
The Classic
Are you a STEM or humanities person?
Zead Husain
Humanities.
The Classic
What is the best drink that’s not water, coffee, or tea?
Zead Husain
Any frappe.
The Classic
What is your go-to song for the subway?
Zead Husain
"3 Headed Goat"
The Classic
What's a hidden gem activity or experience at school that more people should appreciate?
Zead Husain
Um, a hidden gem. Let's see. I feel like your teachers, like students need to appreciate their teachers more.
They do a lot for the school, and they don't really get recognition like they're supposed to. They're a very underrated part of the school environment.
The Classic
So the question is what's a hidden activity or experience? Not an individual or a group of people.
Zead Husain
Sorry, I misheard that. Activity or experience. Let's see. A hidden activity? Can I get input?
The Classic
No.
Zead Husain
Hidden activity or experience. I play by the books, you know? I only do things I'm allowed to. I don't really break rules.
So I don't know what's hidden and what's not.
The Classic
What kind of teaching method do you think is most effective and why? You have visual, audio, group work, independent work, slides, creative projects. Alternatively, what helps you learn best?
Zead Husain
I'm a strong believer that projects, group projects are a great way to learn. Everyone chips in, and when they present projects, it's just more fun learning that way instead of the teacher just standing in front of class and explaining.
The Classic
What colors and why would you assign your folder for the core subjects? English, math, science, social studies, and world languages.
Zead Husain
I am glad you asked because red would be English, blue would be math, green would be science, and yellow would be social studies or whatever.
The Classic
How about world languages?
Zead Husain
Yeah, world languages would be yellow.
The Classic
Then how about social studies?
Zead Husain
Ain't that the same thing?
The Classic
Social studies and world languages are very different things. World languages like Spanish.
Zead Husain
Oh shoot, you got me there. Like, can I double down on a color?
The Classic
No.
Zead Husain
Purple.
“I believe I'm a very energetic, jolly individual, and I hope I bring smiles to people's faces and make them laugh and happy."
Senior Zead Husain
Zead competes at a wrestling match in the Townsend Harris gymnasium. Photo courtesy of Zead Husain.
Zead competes at a wrestling match in the Townsend Harris gymnasium. Photo courtesy of Zead Husain.
The Classic
Favorite FON that you have nothing to do with?
Zead Husain
Latin X.
The Classic
Is there any assignment more torturous than the mile run at THHS?
Zead Husain
Any math assignment.
The Classic
In a school, you're supposed to learn multiple lessons a day. What's the biggest lesson you learned outside of class from a friend, teacher, faculty member, or other person in the Townsend Harris community?
Zead Husain
Eating. In lunch, you know, many people eat their food in a variety of ways and in their combination choices for their combo meal. I believe I just get inspired when I see people eat their burger in some type of way or use different sauces. It just inspires me to eat more, as if I don't already.
The Classic
More or like more diversely?
Zead Husain
No, like more.
The Classic
What was the best combination for a burger from the school cafeteria?
Zead Husain
So, I actually learned this. It's the chicken sandwich, right? But with the barbecue sauce and ketchup and those potato fries, the orange ones?
Yeah, ketchup with that is beautiful. It's a must try, and you know, whenever I'm hungry, which is always, I look forward to that if they have that for lunch.
The Classic
What YouTube video, book, movie, TV Episode, song or other piece of entertainment makes you tear up and why?
Zead Husain
I refuse to tear up.
The Classic
Writing utensil of choice? Pencil, Mechanical Pencil, Pen, Special kind of pen?
Zead Husain
Gel pen.
The Classic
If you ask people who know you and know about what you contribute to the school, how would you want them to describe your contributions to the school?
Zead Husain
I'd say my energy for sure, you know? I believe I'm a very energetic, jolly individual, and I hope I bring smiles to people's faces and make them laugh and happy and you know, if you're sad, you can always hit me up at FWZEAD on Instagram and feel free to follow. I'll follow back.
The Classic
thhsclassic.com
Built with Shorthand