[1] After taking Basic Skills classes at the Skating Club of Boston, she had private lessons with Sheryl Franks and Bobby and Barbie Martin until the age of eight when she joined coaches Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson.

The following season, she made her ISU Junior Grand Prix debut, winning two silver medals and qualifying for the JGP Final where she finished seventh.

[3] She won gold for the third consecutive year at the New England Regionals, winning the competition by over 16 points.

Her mother Aban Makarechian, is an architect of Iranian descent, and her father Ra'ad Siraj, is managing director of The Bank of New York Mellon of Saudi Arabian background.

[7][8] She won awards at the American Fine Arts Festival and performed three times at Carnegie Hall.