Maya looked at the empty patch of dirt behind her school. It was full of weeds and old leaves, but Maya saw something different. She saw rows of bright tomatoes, tall sunflowers, and leafy lettuce.

"We could grow a garden here," Maya told her teacher, Ms. Chen.

Ms. Chen smiled. "That is a wonderful idea, Maya. But a garden takes a lot of work. Are you ready for that?"

Maya nodded. She made a plan. First, she asked her classmates to help. Together, they pulled the weeds and raked the soil until it was smooth and dark. Next, they dug small holes in neat rows. Then, they carefully placed seeds into each hole and covered them with dirt.

Every day after school, Maya and her friends watered the garden. They watched for tiny green sprouts pushing through the soil. After two weeks, small plants began to appear. Maya felt proud.

By the end of spring, the garden was bursting with color. Red tomatoes hung from thick green stems. Yellow sunflowers stood tall against the fence. Maya picked a tomato and took a bite. It was the best tomato she had ever tasted.

"We did it," she said to her friends. "We turned dirt into something amazing."

Ms. Chen put her hand on Maya's shoulder. "You taught everyone that hard work and patience can turn a dream into something real."