I’ve always known that I was lucky. I was born into a family that believed in girls, lucky to have parents who encouraged me to pursue my education, and lucky to have immigrated to the US, where my world opened up. There, I could imagine a future where I not only had a career, but one that took me to remote parts of the world to fight for the rights of the marginalized. I got to do everything I wanted to do!
I also know that my life could have easily been different if I had been born into another family, another class, or another religion. My foundation was built on circumstances of luck that many children are never given.
I first joined Shanti Bhavan in 2017 as an on-site administrator, and later went on to work in international development, including on humanitarian relief for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. But what kept drawing me back to Shanti Bhavan was its long-term model: support from preschool through college and into their first job, so they have the chance to lift their families out of poverty.
The longer I work here, the more inspired I feel. I get to watch our students graduate, explore their interests, find their footing in the world, and inspire others with their success. My role now is to tell Shanti Bhavan’s story, and it’s a story I’m incredibly proud to share.