I was born into a middle-class family in Bangladesh, and the education system entirely different from here. In Bangladesh, often required private tutoring, which my family could not afford. When I faced trouble understanding concepts from class, I had to figure things out on my own, and it was difficult. From then on, I aspired to become a teacher, so that I would be able to ensure support and guidance for my students so that they would not have to face the same obstacles.

Julian, who is special needs, he often keeps to himself, not because he does not want to join in. One day, I saw that he had drawn himself as Superman from memory at just four years old. The drawing had the Superman logo, the colors, the details of the costume and of himself, all incredibly accurate for his age. In that moment, Julian's art reminded me that teaching is about helping students learn, but a significant part of teaching is also about learning from them.

I founded a small organization in Bangladesh called “Charagach” (translates to Tiny Plant), where I assist children who are orphaned or whose parents cannot afford to support their education. If I received the $25,000, I would use it to reach more Bangladeshi kids in unfortunate circumstances, providing books, school supplies, tutoring, safe spaces for them to learn and grow. I would love to give them the chance to dream for their futures, and the first step is to work towards their education.