Athens Drive is home to a very diverse student body, with many students who come from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Samara Tarek is a junior who comes from a Bengali-American household. Her culture has influenced her to establish two student organizations, which align with her Islamic and Bengali values.

“My culture definitely teaches me to look out for other people, and that’s what I strive to do through my organizations,” said Tarek.

Tarek is the founder of Akash Choya Shopno, which means “Dreams That Touch the Sky” in Bengali. Tarek was inspired by the countless number of immigrants who come to the U.S. and are unable to utilize the education they had in their home country, which prevents them from achieving their goals in life.

“At Akash Choya Shopno, I want to make sure my students have dreams that aren’t pushed aside. I want them to feel they can challenge the old ideas they’ve been given and really pave their own path. More than anything, I want them to stay motivated and know that whatever they’re aiming for is actually within reach,” said Tarek.

Akash Choya Shopno is an international organization that aims to help students in Bangladesh through student-led volunteering. It has grown into a global network of students and physicians, with doctors and professors from Bangladesh contributing to the learning materials. Students from all over the world – from our own Athens Drive to countries like Algeria and Egypt – help out with tutoring. They also recently partnered with Harvard University’s School of Public Health, which Tarek said was one of her proudest achievements.

“I’ve never been one to just wait for opportunities to come to me. If they aren’t there, I’d much rather go out and build them for myself,” said Tarek.

Her other organization, At-Tariq, focuses on combating misconceptions about Islam before they lead to negative stereotypes by fostering conversations about religion and culture between people across the world. It aims to raise awareness and representation about the Muslim community on a global platform.

“Giving back is huge for me. Being Bangladeshi and Muslim, those roots really shaped who I am, and I see these organizations as a way to bring my heritage and my values together. It’s about putting those beliefs into action and sharing them with people who might not know what I’m all about,” said Tarek.

After observing the disparities between her own education and the education students have in Bangladesh firsthand, Tarek was motivated to take action in order to combat the imbalance of resources offered in America compared to the fewer opportunities in Bangladesh.

“She shows such strong empathy, which sometimes we can be lacking in today’s society,” said Molly Gehring, a social studies teacher who nominated Tarek to be featured.

Tarek is focused on expanding the outreach of both her organizations. While she knows that real change doesn’t happen overnight, she remains driven by the progress she’s already seen. She is patient but persistent, continuing to build awareness and create a lasting community that values representation and understanding.

“Through both my organizations […] my main motive is to fight barriers that are traditionally given to people, and tell other people, and especially students in underserved populations, that they are worthy, regardless of what other people are telling them. I care about making sure that students’ background or gender don’t stop them from reaching their fullest potential,” said Tarek.

If you’re interested in learning more or getting involved with either organization, you can reach out via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. 

You can also stay updated by following their Instagram accounts: @akashcshopno and @attariq.official.