by Serwar Ahmed
My mother, Juthsna Ahmed, has always been—and will always be—a profound source of inspiration in my life. She was born in Bangladesh at a time when girls in her community rarely had opportunities to pursue education beyond what would be considered the equivalent of eighth grade.
My grandfather, however, firmly believed that girls deserved the same educational opportunities as boys and should be encouraged to dream beyond traditional expectations of early marriage and a life confined to the home. While my mother was already beyond the age to attend this first girls high school my grandfather started in their village, her younger sister was part of the first graduating class—a remarkable and transformative milestone.
Throughout her life, she has carried that belief forward, consistently advocating for greater representation of women in her community, including in leadership roles traditionally held by men. One of her most meaningful achievements was becoming the first female board member at our mosque in San Jose, California, where she earned deep respect through her leadership, integrity, and quiet determination. My mother also came to the United States with that eighth grade education and aspired to be more than just a mother. She went to community college, received a degree and had a successful career as a technician in the Silicon Valley, along with my father, supporting my brother and I.
My Mother’s Day donation is a direct tribute to Juthsna Ahmed—her courage, her advocacy, and the legacy of possibility she has created for others. In many ways, my mother’s hope and vision for women is similar to Thrive’s mission to keep young girls fed, going to school and aspire to be whoever they want to be when they grow up.
