Omar Rising

Omar has big hopes and dreams, but like everyone else at school, his self-confidence has strong days and weak ones. However, despite his fluctuating sense of well-being, he continues to persevere, reaching for the stars despite his many social setbacks and academic disappointments. Whether he is faced with class-related challenges or systemic prejudice and injustice, he always finds a way to move forward in positive and proactive fashion. It is therefore highly appropriate that Saeed dedicates the novel thus: “For every Omar out there—never stop believing in yourself” (np). Omar’s journey illustrates the importance of having self-assurance and holding onto one’s deepest dreams and ambitions.

Omar’s own ambitions manifest in his firm view of what he wants from life—an education, a career as an astronomer, and a home for his mother. However, his view of the road to success is a bit narrow at first, for he believes that the only key to his success is graduating from Ghalib. Omar clutches these dreams close, and they often fuel his resolve through times of self-doubt. Even before going to Ghalib, Omar worries that the classes will be too difficult, but he overcomes these initial fears though hard work, seizing on Mr. Adeel’s advice to “fake it till you make it” (33). Omar, unfortunately, does feel more and more like a fake as time goes on and the restrictive rules against scholarship students begin to press down upon him. Omar admits that he sometimes feels like “an imposter” at Ghalib. Omar’s poverty contributes to his feelings of being an outsider because Aiden’s snark and the school’s intrenched, discriminatory rules negatively call out Omar’s socioeconomic difference. Omar’s sense of being a second-class citizen make Omar feel like he does not belong—something he fights to overcome. His “sugarcoated” responses to Mrs. Rashid’s questionnaires and his desperate studying are attempts to prove he is not inferior, and that he does belong at Ghalib. These efforts show Omar’s determination to succeed, and Saeed uses multiple references to astronomy-related imagery to illustrate Omar’s continuing efforts to reach for goals that stand far beyond his current means.

As the challenges mount, Omar struggles to maintain his optimism, his faith in himself, and his abilities. Fortunately, he has a lot of support from friends, teachers, and staff alike, and even the universe seems to support him, providing him with many signs and omens that are deeply personal and meaningful to him. For example, the old school mural features a boy looking through the telescope—reaching for the stars just as Omar dreams of doing. Omar interprets the image as “a sign from the universe to keep at it” (40). Similarly, Maheen, the talk show host that Naveed admires, offers pointed maxims about the values of perseverance, hard work, and having the willpower and confidence to “seize the day” (59). Amal likewise encourages Omar to “be brave,” and Mr. Adeel advises him to be confident and not let success come at the expense of missing out on life’s pleasures. Shuaib tells Omar to trust in his own abilities, but ultimately, Omar’s focus on “making it” is attached to his need to be successful at Ghalib and is largely driven by his fear of failure.

When it seems that all of his ambitions are about to be snatched away, Omar realizes that he has started to give up on his dreams. However, learning that the Ghalib administration considers this to be his weed-out year, he becomes newly energized and refuses to fail. Omar defiantly asserts that he, Naveed, and Kareem will beat the rigged system. Omar thus adopts Shehzil Malik’s advice to be “stubbornly optimistic” as his personal mantra. Like the former planet Pluto, Omar is the underdog, steadily persevering in the face of obstacles and difficulties. In this spirit, Omar continues to reach for the stars, doing everything in his power to actualize the future he envisions. He courageously faces his fears, even going so far as to ask Moiz, an intimidating figure, for help. He sacrifices a social life for his dreams and succeeds; his grades rise dramatically. Losing his scholarship is a massive blow to Omar’s sense of self and to his dreams. He briefly doubts Shehzil Malik’s advice to persevere, but ultimately rallies, showing his resilience and determination to keep fighting for his dreams—at Ghalib, or wherever he ends up (173). Omar at last gains true confidence, learning that belief in himself no matter what the real key to success is.