Farhana Akhter 2013
“The city of Alexandria, as well as T.C., has given me so much, and I feel that it’s my turn to do something in return.”
Farjana Akhter is fulfilling that promise as an Employment and Training Specialist/Social Worker at the Alexandria Department of Community Services Center for Economic Support JobLink. In this position, she serves at-risk individuals by providing education/career counseling and assistance in finding employment to help on their path to self-sufficiency.
A native of Bangladesh, Farjana dreamed of attending college, not only to fulfill her personal goals, but also to attain a dream that had been unavailable to her parents. Described by her teachers as an excellent student, focused and deeply committed to learning, Farjana excelled in the challenging classes in which she enrolled at T.C. Williams. Beyond her academic prowess, however, more than one teacher stressed her kindness, warm personality, enthusiasm and maturity. “She is the type of student – type of person — who helps others rise to the challenge,” said one.
A participant in numerous extracurricular activities, including the National Honor Society, Project Discovery, the International Club and Desi Club, her dedication and enthusiasm were recognized by her peers as she was elected to leadership positions in two different clubs. She also volunteered in the Alexandria community, working on food drives, distributing toys to children in need at Christmas, helping at the George Washington Middle School Library and at Woodbine Nursing Home.
This academic prowess and passion to help others led to Farjana’s decision to pursue a career in Social Work. Receiving the Mary Hatwood Futrell/Education Association of Alexandria Scholarship in 2005, along with three renewal awards from the General Fund, helped her complete her B.A. in Psychology at George Mason University. She went on to earn a Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
From working as a Summer Employment Counselor for Alexandria’s youth to serving as a Social Work Intern at T.C. Williams to her current position, Farjana has made a career of giving back to the community that gave her the support she needed to pursue her dreams.
T.C. Williams Class of 2005
B.A., Psychology, George Mason University, 2009
M.A., Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011
