Teachers and students reflect on how Solomon has touched their lives

Enya Kuo | News Editor

Irvington High School lost an esteemed student and friend when junior Solomon Amini passed away late in March. Solomon’s friends and teachers remember him as a friendly and caring person who always made those around him laugh.

Solomon’s classmates have described how his personality and actions have made a positive impact on their lives and how his insights on life have inspired them.

“He would always stop me in the hallway to say hi or ask how I was,” said junior Fabiha Zaman. “Although it was small gesture, it meant a great deal to me.”

“I knew he was a genuine person,” added junior Janet Tang.

Wesley Cheng, also a junior, agreed that Solomon was down-to-earth and friendly, and junior Lauren Murvihill recalled Solomon’s open-minded views when it came to personal troubles. “If you told him that you were unhappy about something, he would try his best to make you see things from a different perspective and realize that your problems aren’t as bad as you think they are,” she said. “He tried his best to put other people’s needs and worries before his own, and I respect him tremendously for that.”

Solomon’s teachers remembered a hardworking student who brightened up their classrooms with his unique ideas, strong teamwork skills, and good-natured character.

“I admired his belief in himself. He definitely stood out for his courage,” said AP Language teacher Ms. Friend. “Especially earlier in the year, he would stay after for a couple of minutes or come early to ask a question, and that showed a lot of initiative.”

Art teacher Ms. Barret brought up how Solomon integrated his life into his artwork. “He liked to do things that he was passionate about,” she said. “He would pick a movie he liked and maybe reference it in his art, things that inspired him.”

Ms. Sharma, Solomon’s advisory teacher, talked about Solomon’s helpful attitude—especially when it came to volunteering for the recycling bins—as well as his idiosyncrasies. “He used to whistle when he worked—whistling was his habit—and I had to tell him every time, ‘Please do not whistle,’” she recalled. “He would say, ‘Okay, Ms. Sharma.’ He was very sweet. He was a great kid who wanted to do something great in his life.”

“He’d always come up and ask the off-the-wall questions,” added Solomon’s chemistry teacher, Ms. Conlon. “He was always volunteering, providing thoughts, questions, answers. He was quite a big part of our class.”

Survived by his parents and two younger brothers, Solomon had touched the lives of the people around him, as Lauren Murvihill said. Irvington will miss his kindness and smile, and Solomon’s memory will continue to touch those with whom he had shared his life. In the end, said junior Matthew Wanees, “He was a selfless guy who deserves to be recognized, for just being himself and trying his best.”