December 20, 2023
Sheema Zaira Has an Impact on Those She Meets
By John Myers
By Huifen Li
The process of getting to know a person is a difficult task. It depends on how much each side is willing to put effort into showing who they really are. What is originally perceived to be someone’s overall image may be incorrect. It’s always a journey of discovery as people choose when the best time is to divulge their personal information.
Such is the case with Sheema Zaira, whose identity is closely related to her South Asian Pakistani background. This is evidenced by her name, which “has a religious and cultural meaning behind it — she was named after a historical Muslim woman.” On surface level, she’s shy, mature, kind, and hard working. This first impression of her is built upon as bonds and relationships form. Becoming more comfortable, Zaira’s true colors are shown.
Zaira believes in treating others how you want to be treated, otherwise known as the “golden rule.” She expects you to be as loyal and caring to her as she is to you.
Growing up with a balanced friend group that has been with her since middle school, she has developed a deep affection for her friends that makes her a bright, loud, and energetic person. It has also shaped her trait of being a deep thinker. She’s able to empathize with others more and see their perspective, acting as a therapist in some situations.
From a young, impressionable age, Zaira’s mother and sister, Halima Naseer, have been her role models. Naseer has influenced Zaira greatly through her academics. Growing up with a low-income family, Zaira was showered with love and care, becoming the awe-inspiring young woman that she is today. However, in looking up to her sister, Zaira developed the innate desire to make people like her. “I have this mindset of being obsessed with getting people to like me,” Zaira says.
Meeting new people is always terrifying – there will be the fear that they will secretly despise you and plot to steal all your friends, eventually making them turn against you. Often, this will not be the case. But first impressions matter quite a lot; people will determine whether they would like to be your friend from this first impression. Hence, Zaira puts her best self out there.
But with this mindset to please people, her demeanor has led to people perceive her differently compared to what she thinks of herself. Despite the closeness she may have with a few, their perception of her may be distorted slightly. Zaira feels as though this image of her has been formed from the energy that she puts out, especially related to her perfectionism. “They’re not going to see those flaws,” Zaira states.
“They don’t see the whole image; they just see a little piece of the image.” No matter her perception of herself, the person that she puts out there will still be well liked by many.
