YOUTH
Students fulfill
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Parents’ emphasis on education bears fruit
The teenage children of four successful immigrants
from southern India are distinguishing themselves
with their academic excellence and service to the St.
Lucie community.
Their fathers are doctors who separately immigrated to the
United States between 1984 and 1992. Babar Shareef met his
wife Mehr in New Jersey, where she grew up. Prasad Chalasani’s
wife Mydhili came here at 15 with her family. But the
others met their wives when they returned briefly to India for
that purpose. All four started their professional lives in the
Northeast, eventually coming to Port St. Lucie, where they
live just blocks apart in St. Lucie West. Two (Humayun and
Babar Shareef) are brothers and two (Prasad Chalasani and
Kamalakar Rao) are medical partners. All are fathers of super
high-achievers who’ve been friends most of their lives.
These young people aren’t focused on being popular or
the next football game. Their parents have taught them that a
successful future and personal happiness depend on an excellent
education and hard work.
MAN ON A MISSION
The first to arrive, Humayun Shareef, came to Brooklyn in
1984, joining his married sister. Unmarried, he had a doctorate
in osteopathy and $200 in his pocket. While practicing
medicine, Humayun also held down multiple jobs. After marrying
his wife Naheed, the young couple moved to a basement
apartment in Brooklyn and started a family.
Today, they enjoy entertaining in their spacious home in >>
30 Port St. Lucie Magazine
ED DRONDOSKI PHOTOS
Outstanding students, left to right, Koushal Rao, Haniya Shareef, Sana Shareef and Nishanth Chalasani credit their parents for their academic success.
BY L. L. ANGELL