2024
Maryland Young Women Leaders Honoree

Fariza’s story as a high school junior at Western School of Technology and Environmental Science is nothing short of inspiring. She immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan when she was five years old.  

Fariza is more than a student; as her family’s sole translator and caregiver, she is an advocate for her family. Balancing her educational goals with these familial responsibilities demonstrates her resilience and unwavering dedication to her aspirations. What truly distinguishes Fariza is her commitment to uplifting others. Every weekend she volunteers to tutor low-income students, demonstrating her commitment to educational equality. Her interest in advocacy for women’s rights and educational equity has made her a very inspiring young woman. 

Fariza’s exceptional academic record can be seen by her enrollment in multiple advanced placement (AP) courses, which speaks to her commitment to education. Fariza is an AP & dual enrollment student and she continues to challenge herself by taking multiple collegiate level courses. She has taken 4 AP’s including this year and 2 dual enrollment classes, and she is planning to take several more during her senior year. She has received the Western Tech Honor Roll every quarter since her freshman year, which was awarded for her high GPA. In February of 2022, she received the Student of the Month award for her academic excellence and personal character in her classes.

But it’s not just about her personal development; she’s a passionate advocate for women’s rights, and she’s involved in a variety of organizations aimed at making society more equitable. She is actively involved with Baltimore County Student Council (BCSC) and the student council within Western Tech. With BCSC Fariza was the school representative as a member of the Board of Selected Students. This year, she has been appointed to the Executive Board and she helps run the Board of Selected Students. Fariza’s most significant leadership activity includes being the Founder/President of Girl Up Western Tech which is a club dedicated to raising awareness of and fundraising for women in need globally. Through this club she has hosted different drives and workshops to spread awareness for women in need.

Fariza was accepted into the prestigious academic enrichment & research program, Yale Young Global Scholars at Yale University with a scholarship. At Yale, she was a student speaker, content creator ambassador, and presenter for the program. Finally, Fariza is currently working on creating her own nonprofit organization that focuses on helping ambitious Central Asian students worldwide get access to educational resources and opportunities.
 Fariza volunteers with different organizations at Western Tech, including Spanish Honors Society where she tutors other students and fundraising projects like their clothing drive for children. Fariza volunteers at the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company every year with HOSA Future Health Professionals to educate the community on important healthcare topics. Fariza is also a part of the Academy of Health Professionals magnet at Western Tech, which allows her to be an unpaid intern at the University of Maryland Medical Center. As a part of the internship, she will be assisting patients with activities of daily living and helping medical professionals throughout her time there.
Fariza is an inspiring leader who is actively making a difference in her community.

“Leading isn’t about age or gender; it’s about purpose. Strive to make your impact not measured by years but by the positive change you bring.”