Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs A letter goes a long way
10 May 2023
When Tareeque’s sponsors mentioned science in a letter to him, little did they know they were planting a seed in the young student’s mind.
At the time, Tareeque wasn’t a fan of the subject. But a small interest soon sprouted into a deep passion and drive for education. The endless possibilities of learning about the natural world led Tareeque to pursue a biomedical degree.
Now, he’s at medical school studying to become a doctor.
At the time, Tareeque wasn’t a fan of the subject. But a small interest soon sprouted into a deep passion and drive for education. The endless possibilities of learning about the natural world led Tareeque to pursue a biomedical degree.
Now, he’s at medical school studying to become a doctor.
Tareeque's path wasn't an easy one but the Queensland student persevered. With unwavering support from his mum and sponsors, he has overcome obstacles to reach his dreams.
"When you have someone in your corner who looks past your background and believes in you, it makes a big difference. It made me realise my dreams can actually happen," Tareeque says.
Tareeque’s journey with The Smith Family began in primary school. At that time, he was matched with his sponsors – a couple who supported him until he finished his undergraduate degree.
As one of 11 siblings, Tareeque has seen first-hand how hard his mum worked for them. She was always in their corner throughout her own challenges as a single parent living with disadvantage. He acknowledges how much the support from The Smith Family helped his mum from the beginning.
When you have someone in your corner who looks past your background and believes in you, it makes a big difference.
“I didn’t know what The Smith Family was then, but I knew it was helping mum out. Mum did a great job of bringing us up as a single parent. I didn’t really understand at the time how hard supporting a family of 11 must have been for her,” he says.
Sponsorship helped provide Tareeque with the essentials all students need to get the most out of their education. His sponsors also sent him letters encouraging him to pursue his dreams.
"The financial support really helped my mum and me. I was able to buy textbooks I needed for school. The letters from my sponsor were very powerful. It means a lot that someone wrote that to me. It’s the emotional support that lets you know you’re not alone."
Tareeque’s proud to be the first person in his family to graduate from university. But his drive is unstoppable. Now he is at medical school, studying to save lives as a surgeon. This is an incredible career goal for any student to accomplish.
As Tareeque reaches extraordinary heights, he still wants to give back to his community and help others take hold of their dreams. He volunteers as a mentor to aspiring medical students and helps them prepare for their applications and interviews.
Tareeque acknowledges that sponsorship provided him the opportunity to overcome the barriers financial disadvantage can create, focus on his education and pursue the incredible goal of being a surgeon.
"I want to let young people know that education is important. If you work hard, with a bit of elbow grease and perseverance, you can escape the mould society wants to put you in. I want to be that for my community.”
"If you’re thinking about becoming a sponsor, it’s really important to know you are part of something much bigger,” Tareeque says. “You are taking an active role in a child’s life and you are helping to shape that life. My sponsors were part of the reason why I was able to go to school and then to uni. When I am in that position, I hope I can give back."
