PANTHERS OF ISKL #46 – RAIMA G & SARA L. – THE BESTIES
For our first feature this semester, we meet up with fifth-grade students Raima G.(’28) and Sara L. (’28), who have become best friends since meeting a year ago during Grade 4 camp.
Despite having different backgrounds, they have many common interests, such as baking cookies, creating digital artwork, and playing with fidget toys!
Here are their stories.
How did the two of you meet?
Sara: I met Raima at the Grade 4 camp at school. She said, “Oh, I don’t have any friends,” and I said, “Hey Raima, do you wanna come to join my group?” She ended up staying with us for the night – we talked a lot and became friends!
Raima: In the first week that I joined ISKL, we had a school camp. I met Sara there, and we got to know each other. Now we’re best friends.
What do you like about each other, and what makes your friendship special?
Sara: Online learning has taken our friendship to a whole new level, as we can call each other virtually. During the first MCO, we talked a lot to each other and did work together. That was something not many other students did because they usually worked on their own.
Raima: Our friendship is unique because we are different in many ways, yet in some ways, we’re similar. Sara likes dogs, and I like turtles. Sara has siblings, and I don’t, and she speaks languages that I don’t. We also come from different countries. That’s the reason that we’re perfect friends.
What is the best memory you’ve shared?
Raima: I think one of our best memories is when we had a sleepover, where we ate marshmallows with chocolate and stayed up until 3:00 am! These kinds of memories are unique and fill me with happy thoughts.
Sara: That’s one of my memories too. I remember that time we did lots of dancing, played games such as ‘follow the leader’ and had chocolate fondue!
When the Movement Control Order (MCO) is over, what would you like to do?
Raima: Well, Sara’s redecorated her bedroom, and I’m excited to go play there!
Sara: I will probably want to connect more with my friends by being social face to face. Being on the screen all the time – it’s just something parents don’t want, and they would like us to be more social in person with our friends. I want Raima to come over for sleepovers and playdates, and I also hope we can go back to school and not have to be online.
What do you enjoy doing together?
Raima: We like to create aesthetic wallpaper backgrounds and collages for either the computer desktop, Ipad, and iPhone home screens. Sometimes I’ll make a dog background for Sara, and she’ll make a turtle background for me. We also like to play with fidget toys!
Sara: The fidget toys like Poppit can get annoying for parents and other kids, but it’s fun once you start popping them!
What are your dream jobs?
Sara: I want to be a learning specialist and help disabled kids in school.
Raima: I don’t have a dream job. I dream more about having a business. I want to start my own company and make a useful product that people can use to better their lives.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Sara: Invisibility and flying! You could fly to school, and if you didn’t want to be seen or be picked for something, you could turn invisible!
Raima: I would like to have teleportation powers. When you’re packing up, you can say, “It’s fine, just go, I can catch up!” then you’ll be like, “I’m here!”. It would make life a lot easier.
What do you like most about ISKL?
Sara: Friends and teachers. Everybody supports you when you’re learning – you feel safe. Once you have been here for a week, you feel like this is a good school to be at. It’s fun here, and a lot of people care about you.
Raima: I agree with Sara. I also really like the learning at ISKL and how they teach it. It’s enjoyable but in the right way. I like talking with teachers and meeting new teachers or new friends. I’ve only been here for a short while, but it only took me a few months to adjust because it’s a great school.
How fast did you learn the Melawati Way? How do you practice it at home?
Sara: It took me about a couple of months because I came here from another school that didn’t have those methods. It took a bit of time, but I got used to it.
Raima: It did not take me that long to learn the Melawati Way. I use this at home – I try to work with my parents even if I disagree with what they think, and I try to ‘help others’ in my class. I also ‘take care of this place’ because I don’t want to leave it like a trash can.
What is your favorite SLR (Schoolwide Learning Result) and why?
Sara: My favorite SLR is to ‘Communicate Effectively’ because you need to speak clearly when talking to others. If not, it could get very confusing, and if you don’t use precise language, they can often get confused with what you’re saying.
Raima: My favorite SLR is to ‘Collaborate Constructively’ because I find working with others very fun.
What is your favorite subject?
Sara: My favorite subject is maths. I am very good at it, but sometimes I’m not too fond of it. Once I learn a strategy though, it just makes it so much fun and easier to understand.
Raima: I think one of my favorite subjects is writing because I enjoy creating stories, especially fantasy, where I can put all my effort into it. I find it very fun and relaxing – it makes me proud of myself for what I’ve written.
What are your hobbies and interests? What do you love doing after school?
Sara: It would be the ASAs (After School Activities). We’re doing the musical on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we’re always practicing, like we Google Meet call and FaceTime call, and we talk and practice.
Raima: I enjoy the musicals because it’s so much fun and it always gives us something to look forward to after school. I also like the tv show ‘Got to Dance’ – I learn a lot from it, and I like dancing.
If you could be any character from a movie/book, who would it be, and why?
Sara: Definitely Rey in Star Wars. I like her because she’s brave, has a lot of stamina, and won’t give up. Sometimes I start to give up on things, but then I think and then go back. That’s what Rey would have done.
Raima: For me, probably Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books because she’s smart, has great friends, and she’s a nice person. I’m hoping I can be like her someday.
What does “Be All You Are” mean to you?
Sara: ‘Be All You Are’ means you are who you are. You can’t make it different because you can only be you, and you can’t be anybody else!
Raima: ‘Be All You Are’ is to be yourself and be you to the best of your abilities. Be the best version of yourself!
For more inspiring stories of our students, look at Haydar’s environmental efforts or Yasseen’s football aspirations here!
Do you know a student, faculty, staff or alumni with a story to tell? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions to communications@iskl.edu.my!