A New Jersey teenager took his activism to one of his college applications, and it resulted in his being accepted into California’s prestigious Stanford University.
Ziad Ahmed, aka Ziad the Activist, is an American-Muslim teen who lives in Princeton. Where the application for Stanford asked, “What matters to you, and why?” the teen wrote “#BlackLivesMatter” 100 times in reply.
He shared his response — and a portion of the subsequent acceptance letter from Stanford — on Twitter.
I submitted this answer in my @Stanford application, & yesterday, I was admitted…#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/R5YxM77bWL
— Ziad Ahmed (@ziadtheactivist) April 1, 2017
“You are, quite simply, a fantastic match with Stanford,” the letter said. “You will bring something original and extraordinary to our campus.”
“It is my hope that I can learn to be a more constructive/knowledgeable ally, & that I can support the #BlackLivesMatter any way I can,” Ahmed tweeted.
.@opalayo @aliciagarza @OsopePatrisse It is my hope that I can learn to be a more constructive/knowledgeable ally, & that I can support the #BlackLivesMatter any way I can.
— Ziad Ahmed (@ziadtheactivist) April 4, 2017
In another tweet, he added, “I also recognize black students are often systemically disenfranchised educationally, & that it is my duty to fight to change that.”
Fighting change is nothing new to Ahmed, who according to his website created Redefy, an organization “committed to defying stereotypes, redefining perspectives positively, embracing acceptance and tolerance and creating an active community” of teens in September 2013.
I also recognize black students are often systemically disenfranchised educationally, & that it is my duty to fight to change that.
— Ziad Ahmed (@ziadtheactivist) April 4, 2017
Additionally, the teen’s received several awards for his activism, been commended by former President Barack Obama and was named one of the top nine teens changing the world by MTV.
