Difference Makers
UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields. They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.
Previous Education
Miraaj is a natural-born educator. From creating a digital media and technology course for first and second graders in Bangladesh to introducing new online learning tools for Child’s Hope in Detroit, he has already made an impact in childhood education.
Seeing students fall in love with learning
“During my student teaching experience at Salina ES, I was in charge of an entire 3rd-grade class as my teacher left for 4 months on maternity leave. At first, I was really nervous to step into the classroom with students that I had never taught before. They had their routines and schedules in place, while I was trying to get acclimated.
“During my time at Salina ES, I was able to make students fall in love with subjects that they had disliked before. My proudest moment was when I gave this girl in my class the confidence to overcome her fears and try new things. She was scared of public speaking and participating in class. As a collective unit, we encouraged her and emphasized the safe space that we were in. By the end of the semester, she was the first to speak up.”
Helping students reach their full potential
“I am part of the PALS program. PALS stands for Peer Advising Learning & Success. I was an academic advisor to students that were struggling in college. I was able to provide and create resources that helped students reach their academic goals. My fondest memory was when I met with another student at the beginning of the semester and helped her raise her GPA by one whole grade point average. We would meet every week and I would give her new resources, motivate her and have her build inner belief that her goals were very much achievable.”
Where he’ll be teaching next
“I spent the summer of 2021 working as a teaching fellow for Uncommon Schools in Brooklyn, New York. During the fellowship, I learned different teaching taxonomies, participated in rigorous professional development sessions, and taught lessons via Zoom.
“After graduation, I plan to work as an elementary school teacher in Brooklyn for Uncommon Schools, while also pursuing my master’s degree. After three or four years of teaching in Brooklyn, I would like to teach internationally, travel the world, experience new cultures, and live in new environments. Eventually, I want to take my knowledge and experience to my home country of Bangladesh and open schools for underprivileged children.”
