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Yesterday, the story of a young lady came to my attention. Her name is Binta.  Binta is 22 years old and her son is 6. She has lost both of her parents and her husband too. They are both left on their own with no safety net programs or family to turn to. She is looking for a job and would like to join our school. She is willing to take anything available as long as her son attends our school. After hearing her story, I suggested her to proceed with the application since the process will decide the outcome. I definitely want to help her child. But, she has to earn her position.

Binta’s story is both sad and inspiring. Her willingness to sacrifice her youthful years to forge a better path for her child is exemplary. Furthermore, her refusal to cross her fingers and wait is very unusual here. However, hiring Binta out of pity would be a terrible choice and a dangerous cycle that no executive should afford to fall into. She does not need to be saved. She wants to forge a path for herself while forging one for her child. She just need an opportunity with us or somewhere else to support her child education.

Financially, I am well aware that hiring her is currently the best business decision for our enterprise. The cost of running a classroom does not increase per head. Per se, the more students you have in a classroom, the cheaper your cost of running that given class. Overall, the enterprise will save money since it will pay someone at a discounted rate and benefit from a marketing and public relations stance. But, choosing to give her child a chance should not be solemnly judged by financial metrics. Through her story, I was reminded of my own. I am here now in a position of leadership because someone else decided to lay the path for me. I am the product of all those who sacrificed for me, guided me, and entrusted me. They gave me an opportunity.

Binta’s story is a reminder of the power of a leader.  Each of our actions will enslave or emancipate, destroy or revitalize, put to sleep or awaken to paraphrase the Islamic scholar Al-Shariati. Thus, authority without responsibility is a recipe for disaster. With a stroke of a pen, I can change the course of her child’s life. Or least, I will shape his existence for the better. That is a blessing, a burden and a responsibility; one that should never be taken lightly.

For privacy reasons, the name of the individual, her age, the age of the child and their picture have been changed. I have also intentionally omitted certain aspects of the story to protect her and her child’s identity. 

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