Humans of CHAH: Mr. Tariq Hussein

Tariq Hussein is a history teacher at CHAH that’s been in the job for almost 17 years. He grew up in the Bronx, NY and has spent all his life there. He was empowered to work at an early age because of his hard working immigrant parents, whilst also going to school. In an interview, Hussein expresses all the lessons he has learned during his life that he has treasured and is planning on passing down to his kids. Hussein’s story is important because he has lived an interesting life full of example and it can be really inspiring to other people. “My father, he still is to this day, you know, like he came to this country as a young man from Egypt, and has worked his whole life, is still working, in fact, he’s at work right now, as we speak,” Hussein said, believing that his greatest influence has and will always be his father. “Yeah, he’s nearly 70, and he’s still putting in the hours and to provide a better life for me and for my brothers and for my mother and it’s inspired me to do the same and to make a better life for my kids and then hopefully they will continue the pattern until you know…”

Although he doesn’t have a lot of free time because of his job and his studies, Hussein enjoys spending time with his family -his wife and 2 kids- around the park or at home. Some of his favorite activities are playing soccer, playing board games, puzzles and reading. These activities are important to him because he describes himself as the type of person to like to put his brain to work to figure out the logic behind things. Also, because he really likes soccer, Hussein has been a soccer coach at CHAH and another school for around 10 years. He has taught his kids all his soccer skills as well as all the other activities he enjoys doing. “I am reliable… Because I always deliver, you know, like I come to work every day, and I always put in the work, and I put in the time of home for my family, and I get reliable grades, and I, you know, reliable, like if I say I’m going to be there, I think it’s usually a good bet that I’m going to be there. I don’t just flake out like some people do.” said Hussein. He believes that his reliability has pushed him to work harder and be the person he is to this day. 

One achievement Hussein treasures the most is the school play he directed in 2024. He felt there were many difficulties in the production but he managed to pull it off and he and his students loved it. Hussein felt especially proud because his parents were in the front row and that made the moment so much more special. Hussein also felt greatly proud of his students for their awesome work. Some of his other achievements are being a soccer coach for the CHAH soccer team, and another team at a different school, making the trial team at his law school, Fordham and competing within with some other teachers.

One of Hussein’s main future goals is to become a successful lawyer. He was greatly inspired by the show Law & Order which explores the criminal justice system through the investigation of crimes and the prosecutions, Hussein was greatly inspired by the prosecutors. CHAH has helped Hussein develop his career by giving him the advantage of going to the Supreme Court of the United States with his AP government class. He is also actively in Law school, passing his classes with excellent grades and good enthusiasm. “It’s just your life is kind of like a journey of self improvement all the time. You’re always trying to be a better version of yourself, and I feel like Lawyer Hussein could be a better version than teacher Hussein, or if not better, at least a different timeline,” explained Hussein. 

Hussein believes the most important lesson to be taught is how to be a good person:  “…because it’s a struggle to do the right thing every day that everybody goes through, right… Yes, I guess. I mean, none of us are perfect, but I think that on the whole I’ve done more good than harm… I’m kind and loving to my family, and even to this school, deserving or undeserving to the people in this school, you know, contribute. I’m trying to make the world a better place in CHAH, in the classroom, in the courtroom, you know, somewhere I’m trying to do some good…”