I have a very light complexion, and the sun hasn’t always been kind to me. This often kept me from enjoying outdoor activities. While my brother and sister played outside, I sometimes watched them from our living room, playing on my computer. Seeing them bond and have fun without me made me feel left out at times. One day, my brother asked me to design a logo for his Meththa America project, and I was thrilled to be part of something he cared about. Later, he invited me to help with a school supply drive, and I was excited to get my friends involved by donating supplies. These moments made me feel like I was finally part of my older siblings’ world. When my brother planned to take a laptop to one of the kids he was helping, I was happy to donate mine. That child, Shilithila, is now 11 years old. When I first saw his picture, he gave me strength and determination. If he could go to school every day with the challenges he faces, I felt that I could overcome anything. I also felt a strong desire to help him, especially with his English. For almost two years now, I’ve been teaching him English through the laptop my brother took to Sri Lanka. The thank-you note he sent through my brother was heartwarming and made me want to help him even more.

Shilithila is an avid chess player and recently won district-level chess tournament in Sri Lanka. He also competes in elocution contests, and I’m incredibly proud of how much his English improves each week. I help him by reading paragraphs related to his interests and practicing daily conversations. One day, Shilithila mentioned that he wants to become an Artificial Intelligence engineer. I shared some information about Georgia Tech, as my sister was completing her bachelor’s degree there and was a member of the Reck Club. I told him Georgia Tech is also my dream school, and I plan to major in computational media. From the moment he expressed his AI aspirations, I became determined to help him improve his English so he could take the TOEFL and apply to Georgia Tech.

At the start of this year, Shilithila passed a highly competitive scholarship exam for 5th graders in Sri Lanka and even made national news for his achievement. His mother, a single parent who runs a small business bottling water, is an inspiration to all of us.

In six years, I truly hope that Shilithila will be writing his Georgia Tech application essay and fulfilling his dream of becoming an AI engineer. Shilithila’s mother often says that his improvement in English has boosted his confidence, and it’s heartwarming to know that while some people blame the media or technology for being a bad influence, we can actually use technology to brighten someone’s life—not just one, but many.

– Sandali Rockwell