I will never forget the smile I saw on the face of a young elementary school student when I handed him a backpack. He smiled just looking at a brand new backpack, not even realizing that the backpack was full of supplies as well. For that kid just having a functioning backpack that wasn't ripped or beaten down was enough to make him grin from ear to ear. The fact that just a functioning backpack was enough to fill this kid up with joy broke my heart. He hadn't even realized that along with the backpack there were colored pencils, crayons, pencils, markers, rulers, and all the supplies needed to do well in school. Most students have trouble paying for college, however, in a country like America, it is heartbreaking to read stories about kids who cannot succeed in k-12 education due to financial hardships. My parents, community leaders, and Islamic identity have always taught me to give back to those who don't have the resources I do. I have been born and raised in America, however, both of my parents come from Pakistan. In countries like Pakistan, not everyone has the access to education and that is the harsh reality of the situation. My dad tells me stories about how his family did not have the finances to be able to finish school in Pakistan. He uprooted his whole life to move to America at the age of 14 and establish a better life here so that he could give me a better life and opportunity to succeed through education. Through my father's tough experiences, I have learned to value education. My mosque teams up with an organization called Who is Hussain annually to hold, what we call, a backpack drive. New backpacks, as well as school supplies, are provided for kids in Chicago who cannot afford them. I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in this opportunity and help others who are not as fortunate as I am. Who is Hussain also organizes volunteer events at soup kitchens which I have found very rewarding. There is a certain pleasure one finds when helping others who are less fortunate than themselves. I hope to continue volunteering and helping others through my role as a future educator. I plan on pursuing a career in the field of academia, it would be a dream of mine to become a History professor. I would love to specifically focus on teaching Islamic history. Unfortunately, through media portrayal, Muslims are painted in a negative light and not everyone understands Islam is a religion that promotes love, peace, and unity. I strive to be able to use my position as a professor to facilitate charitable campaigns such as food drives, clothes drives, and backpack drives similar to Who is Hussain. It would be a dream come true of mine if I could use my position as a professor to engage organizations like Who is Hussain in a university setting. The general public may not know how much Islam teaches us to give back to the poor. As a professor, I would be able to help students put together charitable events to help propagate the name of Islam in an educational setting. It is every community member's job to be the best representative of Islam. I hope that my volunteer experience and career goals help me represent Islam in the best way possible and help others who are not as fortunate as I am.