"You should practicing how to serve tea. Your husbands family will expect it." I was nine years old when I first heard these words. It wasnt just a comment however, it was a warning and an unspoken reminder of the limitations that Indian society had placed upon generations of women. My sisters, my female cousins, even my mother, were all expected to follow the three rules brought down upon us by our immigrant Indian elders: stay home, stay small, stay quiet. Dreams of pursuing a career was laughed at. Why work when you can have kids and worship your husband? Any signs of ambition was met with dismissal, and a harsh reminder of what my role truly was. However, despite the outside noise these elders created, my father and mother knew they immigrated to America for a reason. America is a country where women have the power to lead, to learn, to launch amazing initiaves, and it is supported. That realization sparked something within me: I will not only reject these ridiculous expectations, but I will help others do the same. My name is Zoya, and I'm a senior in high school with a passion for social entrepreneurship and community leadership. When I was introduced to Success Seekers—an organization built to empower young girls with the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams, I knew this platform will have immense impact. Through Success Seekers, I led public speaking workshops for younger girls, created leadership lesson plans, and mentored those who reminded me so much of myself. This experience didn’t just validate my ideas—it solidified my purpose. My impact didn’t stop there. At school, I sought to become part of change-making spaces. I now serve as the President of our Muslim Student Association (MSA), where I co-led major events like Maine East's Very First Fundraising Gala and Fast-a-Thon. In the Maine East Gala, we invited the District Board and administrators from all acorss the district, and managed to raise $1.5k+ for girls education all over the world. Recently, in March, we hosted MSA's annual Fast-A-Thon, where we encouraged the whole school to fast in solidarity with Muslims in Ramadan, and hosted 300+ people to break their fast together. Additionally, as part of KIVA, a microfinance club, I helped raise over $1,000 to support entrepreneurs around the world, ensuring that women in rural villages and underserved communities have access to the opportunities they’re so often denied. These experiences were never about building a resume. They were about rewriting a legacy. I come from a line of women who were never given the tools to dream freely, and I’ve made it my mission to build those tools, not just for myself, but for every girl who has ever been told to lower her voice or narrow her vision. Today, I’m not just proud of what I’ve done—I’m proud of what I represent for other girls who look like me and who come from similar backgrounds. I know that my purpose lies in creating pathways for others, whether that’s through advocacy, entrepreneurship, or education. And each time I take the stage, pitch an idea, or lift someone else up, I feel like I’m reaching back in time, and offering my younger self a hand and saying, we made it out of that box they built for us.