SNHU Agents of Change Podcast · SNHU Social Sciences

Season 5 Ep 11: The Power of Persistence: A Student's Story of Resilience

·35 min·2 clips

Liram says she crossed by car in a burqa so the Taliban wouldn't recognize her.

Dr. Leman Tash opens the conversation by welcoming listeners to Agents of Change and setting up a discussion centered on inclusion, student success, and personal stories of perseverance. Liram joins to share her journey from Afghanistan to Southern New Hampshire University. She explains that she came to the United States so she could study computer science. Her story starts with the conditions she faced in Afghanistan, especially as a woman seeking education. She describes those conditions as difficult and restrictive. The conversation then turns to how she chose her field of study. Liram says she has always been drawn to technology and computers. That interest helped shape her path even when the circumstances around her were uncertain. Dr. Tash guides the conversation step by step so Liram can explain her experience clearly. The interview keeps coming back to resilience. Liram says believing in her own ability mattered. She also emphasizes that success begins with using the opportunities that are available. Her comments connect ambition to patience and hard work rather than luck. The conversation then widens into the role of education itself. Liram says she believes deeply in education and sees it as a source of strength. She also connects education to freedom. In her view, the chance to study is something worth protecting and honoring. Support from others is another major thread in the episode. Liram describes the help she received from her brother when she faced challenges. She says he offered advice and encouragement whenever she needed it. She also speaks with gratitude about her family’s support more broadly. The episode leaves room for the idea that resilience is not only individual grit. It is also shaped by care, belief, and access. Dr. Tash reflects that opportunity and support systems matter in lasting ways. The conversation notes how important it is to appreciate what is already in one’s hands. Liram returns to the idea that she is lucky to be studying computer science. She expresses happiness at being one of the girls who can study. The episode ends with hope for more women and girls in computer science classrooms and technology spaces. Liram imagines returning to Afghanistan one day if conditions improve. She wants to build something practical and lasting there, such as a center or company that teaches girls and women about technology and how it works. The result is a steady, personal account of education as both a privilege and a responsibility.

As heard by us

A sincere, student-centered account of education, resilience, and support.

It frames Liram, an SNHU computer science student from Afghanistan, around education, women's opportunity, and resilience. The strongest moments are the plain ones: determination, family support, gratitude for the chance to study, and a wish to build a place that teaches girls…

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Why you'd press play

Hear a student’s journey from Afghanistan to computer science at SNHU, told through a conversation about resilience and education.

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