Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

I am the son of two Pakistani immigrants who have ingrained the ideas of service, education, and culture. Since I was a toddler, I have traveled halfway around the world every other year and each time I learn something new. Going to Pakistan is not just a vacation. Each visit offers me an opportunity to give back to the culture from which I came. About seven years ago my grandfather built a charity school, The Aziz BiBi School, in Sakrand, a rural part of Pakistan where education is sparse.

As soon as I learnt about the school, I asked my mom how I could assist the students. The area is solely agricultural where nobody gets a proper education. Children grow up learning how to work in the fields and that is it. I wanted to help there because I, along with the rest of my family, feel that every person should have access to a full education. Since my first visit in December of 2012, I have taught math, from basic addition and subtraction to the kindergarten students, to algebra and geometry with those in secondary school. For me, math is what makes the world make sense. When I was teaching the students a math concept, I searched for the best way to have the mathematical concept CLICK in their minds the way it clicks in mine. This experience of teaching others required me to rethink mathematical concepts and give examples that showed their real life use, which further deepened my own understanding of multiple concepts.

It frustrates me to see an entire country deny so many people the basic rights of education and health, and I am determined to change it. The ideas of service, education, and culture drive me to improve the situation of those who suffer in the country I call my second home. Doing this is a balanced blend of selflessness and science, making it the perfect path for me.