Kawthar Benarouch is an artist on Zephyrus and a part of the multimedia team. “I’m really here as the comedic relief, though,” she said. Everyone on staff knows and loves Kawthar’s positive and energetic spirit. She’s been a part of the Zephyrus family since her sophomore year. “I wanted to involve myself in more extracurricular activities and thought Zephyrus would be a fun opportunity,” she said. Her favorite project she worked on this year was helping with the Z-Harmony TikToks.
Kawthar plays the clarinet in Edina High School’s Concert Band and Marching Band, while also serving as the Mental Health Student Chair for the Edina Education Fund. She took part in AFS Intercultural Programs, where she went to India for a month, took STEM classes at an international school while staying with a host family, and learned about the culture of India. “It helped me become more independent and be able to tackle things on my own. It also made me more social because I was able to interact with different kinds of people from all around the world,” she said.
She is planning on attending UC San Diego to major in Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Cognitive Science or Philosophy. “She should be minoring in Rizzinomics,” notes Lauren Chang, a fellow senior Zephyrus staff member. In the future, Kawthar hopes to become a pediatric neurologist or neuroscientist. “I really enjoy learning about the brain; there’s so many different aspects that interest me,” she said.
When asked what she would bring if stranded on an island, Kawthar prioritized practicality. “I would bring a swimsuit, microwave, and Christa because she does track so she can run fast and carry me to safety,” she said.
When asked what gift she would give her enemy, Kawthar’s answer was complex. “I don’t want any enemies, so I would give my enemy a bouquet of flowers. If they are allergic to flowers, I will give them chocolates. If they don’t like chocolates, I’ll give them Jolly Ranchers. If they don’t like Jolly Ranchers, then maybe it’s a sign we’re meant to be enemies,” she said.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 24, 2024
