" My journey began with a single pencil. While traveling through India in 2006, I asked a boy begging on the streets, ‘If you could have anything in the world, what would you want?’ and he answered me with two words: ‘A pencil.’ Luckily, I had one in my pocket, and in the second it took me to give it to him, a defining dream was born. "
- Adam Braun

The quote describes a moment when Adam Braun encountered a young boy living on the streets of India who expressed his deepest desire as simply owning a pencil. This encounter was pivotal, illustrating how basic and simple needs can be profound wishes for those facing extreme poverty.

Beyond its surface meaning, this quote encapsulates themes of empathy, the power of small acts, and the transformative impact of recognizing others' dreams. It highlights how one’s own daily possessions can represent lifelines or opportunities to someone else in a completely different circumstance. Braun’s act of giving away his pencil symbolizes the potential for personal change stemming from compassion and awareness of global disparities. This simple gesture is portrayed as the catalyst that led to a larger mission, underscoring how small acts of kindness can lead to significant social impact.

Adam Braun is an entrepreneur who founded Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization aimed at providing education opportunities in developing countries. His journey began with that moment on the streets of India and evolved into a commitment to improving access to quality education worldwide.