Franklin Banaj (12-3)
Kethan Shirodkar (12-2)
Photo courtesy of Franklin Banaj (12-3)
What was your first day at Masterman like?
Well, I actually came to Masterman in 6th grade, so my first day was very different compared to everyone else. However, being the new kid wasn’t anything bad. Everyone at Masterman was really friendly, so it was pretty easy to make friends. I remember I made one of my first friends in 6-5 when I told this kid named Kethan that he had something in his eye. It actually turned out to be a birthmark, and ever since that interaction, we have been the best of buddies.* I also wasn’t able to find where my carpool van was after school and I remember asking Ms. Brown on the patio where it was. She pointed me in the opposite direction. Oliver Joseph led me in the correct direction after he overheard me asking, and we have also been best of friends ever since.
* I didn’t force him to say this, I actually forgot this happened.
You’ve been a part of the basketball program for 4 years, what was your favorite part?
Watching you [Kethan] rain down threes is definitely up there, but I’ve got to say that practice with Mr. Tannen was always my favorite part of the program. I always found it so much fun when he would jump into the drills with us. He also made some amazing jokes during practices and games.
Who is your favorite athlete?
Definitely Kobe Bryant. Not only because of the way he played basketball, but also just because of who he was as a person —and a father—after he retired. He was actually my rhetorical role model back in 11th grade APLAC. The goal of that project was for us to use rhetorical devices similar to the person that we selected to impersonate and see how that would help us further understand those devices. I think this is when I truly started to appreciate just how powerful of a speaker Kobe was and how much of an impact he has made on the world.
What is your best memory at Masterman?
My best memory is International Day back in 9th grade. It was my first-ever International Day and it was just so much fun. I remember that everyone had gone all out for the workshops, and I felt like I learned so much about the different cultures that were presented. They went all out on the food that year too, which was also a plus.
Which teacher would you pick to spend a day with and what would you do?
I feel like spending a day with Mr. Comfort would be really fun. We would probably get some pizza— because that’s all chemistry really is— and then we’d go hit the gym. A lot of people don’t realize that Comf is lowkey massive and I feel like he’d give me some great pointers in order for me to get right.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
I would definitely tell my younger self to make better studying habits and not procrastinate on big assignments. I would also tell myself to live in the moment and not skip out on school events, because high school really goes by faster than you notice.
It’s well-known that you’re a halal connoisseur. Where is the best halal in town?
This is an amazing question. All of the real halal connoisseurs know that the guy on 17th and Chestnut has the best halal in the city. Not only does he give us discounts, but he also really fills up the plate and he is just a real and genuine guy. Out of all the different halal trucks I’ve tried (which is a lot), this guy is definitely the best.
Where and what do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?
10 years from now, I see myself just enjoying life no matter where it has taken me. I love to hate on Philly, but I feel like I’ll probably still be living here in 10 years unless a big opportunity in a different city presents itself. I don’t really have any specifics, but I just hope that everything goes well and that I’m living a good life.
Finally, is cereal soup?
Cereal is not soup. This is very similar to how all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. Cereal doesn’t have any broth or stock so it can’t be considered soup.