Like any other girl her age, Anjuman has dreams and hopes for her future. She wishes to become a pilot.
Unfortunately, she had to drop out from school in the fourth standard following her father’s demise. One day, a trainer on Girl Rising India’s project visited Anjuman’s home to explain the benefits of education to Anjuman’s mother and how it could help the family. Convinced, her mother enrolled Anjuman in school. However, Anjuman hadn’t been to school for the past four years and she would now need to resume her education from class 5 and would be visibly older than her classmates. Overcome by feelings of embarrassment, Anjuman felt uncertain of her decision to go back to school. But she had nothing to worry about – her friend, Afsana, held her hand and walked her to school on her first day. The feelings of shame and embarrassment soon disappeared once Anjuman was in back in a classroom and one step closer to fulfilling her dream!