This Muslim boy’s admission into Stanford is proof that black lives really do matter

Not only did Ziad Ahmed write an unconventional, three-word long answer in his Stanford application, he also wrote it a 100 times over.

By: Priyal Ray |
April 5, 2017 4:23 pm

What would you imagine one would need to do to ensure themselves an entry into Stanford University? Well, answering their question with a meaningful answer and repeating the answer a hundred times over is an option and a tried and tested one at that now. No, we’re not kidding you.

When 18-year old high school senior Ziad Ahmed went out to fill his application for the Stanford he was asked a question that seems fairly simple to answer. The question was: ‘what matters to you, and why?’. Now, while this seems like a very easy answer to make, it is no mystery that a university as prestigious would not take you in fora generic answer to their seemingly simple question.

So Ziad Ahmed wrote ‘#Black Lives Matter’ and he wrote this a hundred times over in his application. Guess what happened next? Stanford send in his letter of acceptance and the boy secured himself an admission. Ahmed says this was the only way he found to highlight how police misused force when black people were in the scene. Stanford ranks this as one of the most brilliant answers they received. Here’s his tweet on the letter.

I submitted this answer in my @Stanford application, & yesterday, I was admitted…#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/R5YxM77bWL

— Ziad Ahmed (@ziadtheactivist) April 1, 2017

His admission into Stanford isn’t the only achievement to his credit though. The boy is on MTV’s ‘Top 9 Teens Changing the World’ and Business Insider’s ‘Top 15 Young Prodigies’. He’s interned with Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign, met Trevor Noah, delivered a TedX talk regarding the stereotypes people attach to Muslims and how such ideas can be dangerous, and has attended the White House ‘iftaar’ dinner. Oh and he’s also gotten to write for Huffington Post.

let’s ask some hard questions _#linkinbio #TEDxAAS #TEDxTalk

A post shared by Ziad Ahmed (@zidolikespies) on Mar 27, 2017 at 2:28pm PDT

wrote some thoughts bout this election via @huffingtonpost — link in bio __ #americanmuslim #dumptrump #huffpo

A post shared by Ziad Ahmed (@zidolikespies) on Oct 28, 2016 at 1:59pm PDT

“vote for the one who won’t destroy it all” – @trevornoah (a true gift to humanity). #thedailyshow #kennedycenter #withher

A post shared by Ziad Ahmed (@zidolikespies) on Oct 8, 2016 at 8:59am PDT

true bo$$es__#statedepartment #secretarymarshallsoffice #quinoas

A post shared by Ziad Ahmed (@zidolikespies) on Aug 20, 2016 at 10:48am PDT

important convo w/ important ppl __ #blessed #WhiteHouse #roundtable #MASSA #SecretaryJohnKing

A post shared by Ziad Ahmed (@zidolikespies) on Jun 6, 2016 at 3:11pm PDT

procrastinating thru politics __ #hillaryclinton #democrat #election2016

A post shared by Ziad Ahmed (@zidolikespies) on May 1, 2016 at 9:04am PDT

Last night I had the opportunity to meet and talk to the President of the United States of America. The whole experience was beyond surreal. I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your friendship, support, and encouragement. I am so blessed to be surrounded by people that help me in spreading @weredefy’s mission of acceptance, equality, and understanding. I met so many remarkable individuals last night and I am so optimistic about the future. I am now confident that together we can achieve social justice once and for all. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. #TheWhiteHouseIftar #ThePresidentsTable #Ramadan #TheWhiteHouse #PresidentObama #WashingtonDC (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

A post shared by Ziad Ahmed (@zidolikespies) on Jun 23, 2015 at 2:52pm PDT

Yes he’s got a lot on his platter and probably a lot more to come. What you know now is that to get into Stanford you’d have to be gutsy enough to put what you believe in as your answer to their questions.