I was born in Tehran, Iran, and raised by a father whose career required constant relocations and a mother whose heart was dedicated to nurturing young minds as a preschool teacher. From a young age, I learned that education wasn’t just about personal growth—it was a powerful force that could change the world.
As a child, my family moved every 1-3 years, living in places with little to offer—sometimes villages with no electricity, limited food, and barely any educational opportunities. One place that remains etched in my memory is a tiny village near the Iran-Afghanistan border, where life was both harsh and simple. Electricity came for only an hour or two each night, and the nearest city was hours away. The village had two elementary schools, but beyond that, many children’s futures seemed predetermined—working on farms or being drawn into dangerous lives as border smugglers.
I remember sharing a school bench with two of the brightest children I’d ever met. They had sharp minds, quick wit, and top grades—but I knew, deep down, that their talents would likely fade away in that environment. It crushed me to think of how their potential might be wasted because they had no access to the resources they deserved to nurture their gifts.
As a child, I felt a profound sense of helplessness watching their brilliance go unnoticed, and that pain has stayed with me ever since. Those memories were the seed for Hidden Talent—an organization dedicated to uncovering and nurturing the gifts of children and young adults who, through no fault of their own, are denied the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Every child deserves the chance to have their talents recognized, developed, and celebrated. At Hidden Talent, we’re here to ensure that brilliance doesn’t remain hidden. We’re committed to helping gifted minds find the resources they need to flourish and make the world a better place.