Razia Assadi, the valedictorian of Metropolitan Business Academy, stood before her peers and their families, sharing a powerful message about the importance of education and opportunity. As she looked out at the crowd, she thought of the girls in her home country of Afghanistan who haven’t been afforded the same opportunities as her.

A Story of Resilience

Assadi came to the United States from Afghanistan with her family in 2015, during a period of increased violence from the Taliban. She graduated from Metropolitan Business Academy alongside her peers at a ceremony held in the auditorium of Fair Haven School. Her mother, Homa Assadi, became involved with local food nonprofit CitySeed’s Sanctuary Kitchen program, which provides culinary training for immigrants and refugees.

Assadi’s speech highlighted the struggles faced by girls in Afghanistan, who are often denied the opportunity to pursue their dreams. She spoke of her own experiences, of carrying her brother, who has a neurological disability, through their mountainous village in Afghanistan. She also spoke of the importance of community and resilience, and the need to provide opportunities for girls to pursue their education and dreams.

A Bright Future Ahead

Assadi plans to attend Columbia University in New York in the fall, where she will study neuroscience and philosophy. She is grateful for the support of her family and teachers, and is proud of her accomplishments. Her story is a reminder that brilliance is all around us, and that our collective responsibility is to provide the spaces where it can take root and take flight.

Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.