Climate, Poverty, and People: My Reflection on Bill Gates’ Message for COP30
In his recent newsletters and Gates Note, Bill Gates writes with a tone that feels both urgent and grounded – a reminder that climate change, while one of humanity’s most pressing crises, does not exist in isolation. For those of us preparing for…
Disability Inclusion in Higher Education: Lessons for us
Higher education is often seen as the great equalizer – a place where talent, not background, should determine success. But for millions of students with disabilities across the world, the reality is far from equal. Classrooms without ramps, rigid…
How Screen Time Shapes Children’s Speech: A Lesson from my Thesis
A few decades ago, childhood in Bangladesh was filled with outdoor games, songs with grandparents, and bedtime stories. Today, a very different picture is emerging: toddlers holding smartphones before they can even string full sentences together,…
How Political Storytelling Manipulates Youth in Bangladesh
I’ve been thinking a lot about how the stories leaders tell can push people to vote, protest, or even change their whole view of the world. We call these “narratives” – basically, they’re like tales with a beginning, middle, and…
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell | A book summary for youth
Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good. Who we are cannot be separated from where we’re from. Success is not a random act. It arises out of a predictable and powerful set of circumstances and…
The Art of War by Sun Tzu | A book summary for youth
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity. The greatest victory is that which requires no battle. The Art of War isn’t a traditional…
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho | A book summary for youth
It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. People learn, early in their lives, what is their reason for being. Maybe that’s why they give…
Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy | A book summary for youth
Imagine this: every morning you wake up with a long list of things to do. Some are small and easy, like replying to a message. Others are big and scary, like preparing for an exam, starting a project, or applying for a job. Most of us choose the small…
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy | A book summary for youth
To live with dignity in the face of adversity is the real triumph of the human spirit. Normality is a myth invented by those who are lucky enough not to be different. In the midst of war and ruin, there are always tiny islands of happiness. Imagine a…
The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau | A book summary for youth
Imagine this: you don’t have a lot of money, no big investors, no MBA degree – but you still dream of starting something on your own. This is exactly what Chris Guillebeau’s book The $100 Startup is about. It’s a guide for ordinary people who…