I was recently in a classroom in a small city in India telling students to “follow their dreams” when a little girl asked me “Why are dreams so important?” I was instantly transported back to schoo...

I was recently in a classroom in a small city in India telling students to “follow their dreams” when a little girl asked me “Why are dreams so important?” I was instantly transported back to school to when I was 10 years old and my dad asked me, “Beta what do you dream of becoming?” At 10, I wanted to be a doctor, just like him. At 12, a rockstar singer. And at 15, I wanted to rule the world!

The way I see it - Dreams are the first steps of what we can make happen in our lives. They help us imagine a better future, a possibility. I’m really lucky and blessed that my parents told me that the only ambition I need to have is to fulfill my dreams, whatever that may be.

My association with Girl Rising is thanks to a little girl from Kolkata, Ruksana. Way back in 2012, in Ruksana’s paintings, I saw her dreams. In 2012, Ruksana was too young to articulate them, but now I see her dance between her dreams of wanting to be an artist and a teacher. I will remind her to keep dreaming. I want her to work to create a world as beautiful as her paintings. I believe Ruksana will keep dreaming because of Girl Rising and the team of individuals who keep reminding her and pushing her to be the best version of herself.

Girls without dreams will perish. There is a part of them that dies when they don’t feel they have a chance, or a choice. I believe this. The importance of their dreams needs to be of high value to us since it is to our youth that we entrust the future. It is in their dreams that we will find solutions, leadership, humanity and empathy for a better future.

You can begin by finding a girl and asking her “What’s your dream?” post a pic and tag Girl Rising India #WeDreamWeRise and then, make a promise that you will help support her and remind her that her dream matters because every girl matters.