It’s graduation season and we are celebrating the Class of 2023 valedictorian and salutatorian for all eight Arlington ISD high schools. Meet Bowie High School valedictorian Sharmin Ahmed.
NAME: Sharmin Ahmed
SCHOOL: Bowie High School
COLLEGE: University of Texas at Austin
INTENDED MAJOR: Business
What is your dream and how do you plan to make it come true after graduation?
I want to be wealthy enough to open a non-profit in Bangladesh where my parents are from. I’m not sure how to do that. It was a village that helped them get here. I want to be able to give back to them.
Who inspires you the most?
Probably my older brother. His name is Irfan Eshan. He’s like the start of it all. I wouldn’t have been the valedictorian if he wasn’t the valedictorian. If he can do it, I can do it. This type of dude, if he can, I can. I know him.
What is one piece of advice you would give an incoming freshman?
Join clubs, especially the BPA (Business Professionals of America). That allows for travel. That was one of the biggest connecting moments inside the school and outside. Competitive events were part of it. You can showcase your skills on stuff that applies to the world. Presentation, Excel, all the business-type stuff. It was really cool.
What’s been your favorite high school memory?
I’d have to tie that back into BPA. We went to California a month ago. I got to meet like 100 people. I want to go into business in the future. I was able to talk to different entrepreneurs and got to hear about the methodology behind it all, how they were able to start up.
How do you plan to make an impact on society in the future?
Hopefully, I have that open-mindedness. As we get older, people stay in their ways. I hope to keep bringing that out in the future. I hope to keep listening to everyone.
What her teacher said:
If grit and grace were a person, it would be Sharmin Ahmed. She is a young woman of impeccable character, wholly spirited and intrinsically motivated to achieve beyond her own expectations. Alongside her unmatched daily drive to be her very best self, she is an abundantly generous and kind spirit. She’s humble, and I’ve never seen her consider herself before others. In fact, she first considers how her actions will impact those around her. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be her high school counselor. I can’t wait to see the change she will make in this world.
– Denese Scott, Sharmin’s high school counselor