Since the age of five, Qayl has experimented with various forms of reporting, including interviews, photo essays, and mini-documentaries. Some of these videos are posted on YouTube, and he is a contributor to Simerg.com.
Qayl’s early videos include interviews of interesting individuals, including astronaut John Blaha, singers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, and members of Teams USA, India and Canada, at the 2016 Jubilee Games in Dubai.
Qayl recalls a photo essay where he interviewed eight NASA astronauts: Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernan, Joseph Kerwin, John Blaha, Bob Springer, Mark Lee, Kathryn Thornton, Marcos Pontes, and Nasa Launch Director Robert Sieck. “When I think about it, this was a big accomplishment for me because I was only 6 years old and my photo essay was viewed in more than 35 countries, receiving over 150 comments in 25+ languages,” says Qayl.
“My parents have always been very big on learning,” says Qayl, adding “whether it is sports, movies, talks, seminars, or anything else, they have always asked me what I have learned. When I was younger, my parents would take our family on different vacations and would ask me what I have learned on these trips. But it didn't stop there, my parents would also ask me to record and share my newly gained knowledge.”
Qayl acknowledges how privileged he was to go to events such as the Jubilee Games, saying, “I want to be able to share these experiences with people who aren’t able to go, and help them feel the joy that I am feeling.”
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Most recently, Qayl was in Lisbon, Portugal, for the International Jubilee Arts Festival, and he volunteered at a 3-D art station. He remarks that “going to the Jubilee Arts Festival served a very important purpose for me and my peers. It allowed me to meet my brothers and sisters from around the world, and it showed me what we are capable of as a Jamat, as a community, and as individuals.”
Qayl enjoys learning about history, particularly Islamic and Ismaili history. While in Lisbon, he visited a number of monuments, including the Castelo de Sao Jorge, which overlooks the city and the Tagus River.
In a YouTube video, Qayl shares that the Muslims who ruled the Iberian Peninsula about 1,000 years ago built this castle to protect the City of Lisbon from intruders. This castle was built around the same time as Fort Alamut, and it houses a permanent collection of archeological artifacts, including a coin that bears the name of Hazrat Ali.
Amazed by the rich history of Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula, Qayl said, “I am so fascinated that Muslims were able to go to Western Europe and have such a large influence on the community, culture, and civilization.”
While Qayl’s current career goals are in the fields of science and technology, he says that reporting “will always be a part of who I am.” He plans to continue to “travel, learn, and spread knowledge” through his reporting. He says, “this is my way of following Hazar Imam’s guidance.”
Qayl’s advice to his peers: “love what you do! If you follow your passion, you can achieve great things. At first, some of it may be boring, frustrating, and time-consuming, but it will only get better. Never give up!”
