Empower Scholarship for Education

Written by Surtaz Khan

Although I was too young to remember my first year of life living in Bangladesh, I will never be too old to forget the unbreakable connection I have with my origins.

I was born in Bangladesh, a developing country where many children struggle for food, water, and healthcare. There, many families are severely limited and oppressed by a lack of resources in all senses. While my life path ultimately brought me to the United States, millions of people’s paths remain limited in Bangladesh. And while I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that I am able to enjoy, I am saddened by the lack of prospects for others around the world.

In particular, I am troubled by the lack of education for underprivileged students in Bangladesh. This lacking is the factor that traps them in a cycle of poverty that becomes increasingly impossible to break. The inequality we face in terms of access to education in the world is what is driving us apart and preventing unification. If the youth of Bangladesh had access to education, they would have the knowledge and confidence to catalyze change and have the access to share a part of themselves with others. They would have the opportunities to be the change that Bangladesh needs. Most importantly, they would be able to fulfill their full potential as members of an incredibly innovative, unique world filled with opportunity.

I see my school teachers as beacons of knowledge and understanding, and I view my studies as missions to enlarge my perspectives of the world around me. Inspired by the educators who have shaped who I am today, I lead a non-profit organization (scienceinfinity.org) with several other high school students in Bellevue-Redmond area in Washington that strives to teach elementary and middle school students new topics in science and technology. From popular weekly classes to fun buzzer sessions, I am proud to be a part of an organization that spreads positivity, collaboration, and enthusiasm for learning. This year, we decided as an organization to enlarge our scope, and we have implemented our vision by fundraising money from our community to donate to educational causes that we deeply care about. I have decided to donate a portion of our fundraised money to Spreeha to start the EMPOWER Scholarship for Education. Through this, I hope to stay true to my cultural and educational heritage, as well as help the less fortunate children of Bangladesh gain access to an effective learning environment. I hope that this may inspire other kids like me to create their own unique scholarships and programs to help educate those in need.

I believe that the way to fight these challenges facing all of us as a society is through superior education and powerful learning and all world citizens have the right to speak the same language: the language of education, the language of scholarship, and the language of success. If we receive the opportunity to develop as learners, then we all end up with the opportunity to implement change and create solutions. Through this scholarship, we are helping ambitious students whose dreams reside in the stars.

And the only way to get there is through a successful lift-off.

[June 10, 2018]