Omar Rising

Seventh-year Omar loves astronomy and soccer. He is driven to make a better life for himself and his mother by getting a good education and he believes that hard work and perseverance will empower him to achieve his goals. He says, “It’s not like I’m a genius, but I’m responsible. I work hard and get excellent grades” (30). Omar knows that he and his mother are poor, but he also knows that he is rich in love and friendship.

Omar is a good, kind-hearted friend; for example, he hurries to make up with Amal after endangering their friendship and stands up for Kareem when Aiden puts him down. Omar is also sensitive to injustice and does not believe that poverty makes a person inferior. He shows this belief in his need to restore justice to the school system. Even in his smallest gestures, such as when he offers Aiden’s elderly servant a chair, it is clear that he understands that even jobs that are considered to be lowly are still honorable. As Kareem tells Omar, “You’re tough but fair, Omar Ali” (87).

Omar’s sense of fairness ultimately drives his determination to change the biased standards at Ghalib, yet although he focuses on achieving his dreams of a financially secure future and enjoys the support of friends and family alike, Omar still struggles with self-confidence.