I am a Bangladeshi American and first-generation college student who was born and raised in New York City. Growing up as a child of immigrants in one of the world’s largest public school systems, I witnessed first-hand the disparities that existed for students with immigrant backgrounds in the public educational system. South Asian immigrants, like myself, often come from a culture where disability education and female education is stigmatized, and this creates further barriers for first-gen students in the educational system. Knowing this, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the field of education. For the last four years, I have been teaching K-12 and helping thousands of first generation students with college matriculation. I am proud to say this May, I will be graduating with a teaching certification and undergraduate dual degree in adolescent education & history from CUNY Hunter College. At the University of Cambridge, I will be receiving my MPhil in Education from the Knowledge, Power and Politics program in order to research the ways that inclusive curricula that work for multicultural students. I am honored to be among the brilliant network of Gates Scholars, who will mobilize me in my pursuit for educational equity.
Hunter College Adolescent Education & History 2023