In Her Own Words: A First-Gen Grad on Perseverance, Parenthood, and Possibility
Pursuing a master’s degree had always been a dream, but becoming a new mom during the pandemic shifted everything.
With a newborn and the world in lockdown, I paused my software engineering career and applied to Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in Computer Science program to continue learning without leaving my baby behind.
My journey became a true test of resilience. I completed assignments late at night after my daughters had fallen asleep. I welcomed my second baby in the middle of the program, balancing late-night feedings with project deadlines and Sunday night submissions. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth every moment.
Today, I graduate with a master’s degree, two beautiful daughters, and overwhelming gratitude for my husband, whose unwavering support made this possible, and for my parents in Bangladesh, whose blessings carried me from afar. I’m proud to be the first in my family to graduate from Georgia Tech.
As I step into the next chapter, I am building my tech startup in Austin, combining my expertise in Industrial Engineering with practical, real-world AI to help businesses evaluate, optimize, and automate their workflows.
As a mom of two balancing family, work, and grad school, earning this degree has been one of the most transformative chapters of my life. To every mother, dreamer, and non-traditional student: you don’t have to do it all at once; you just have to keep going.
