My first semester at Baruch was great in that I made new friends and had a great time learning new things about what Baruch has to offer. I visited new places and ate at different restaurants around Baruch. Throughout  the semester, I got numerous assignments and had sleepless nights. My best friend throughout the whole time was coffee! If I don’t have coffee one morning, I definitely feel like a zombie. Overall, entering college made me realize that coffee is essential in one’s life.

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During 2011, a devastating event former altered my perspective. It was then that I found out that my father had greatly damaged three discs in his spine lifting heavy objects for a long period of time; the news stunned me. The doctor advised my dad to either have surgery or take medications to relieve the pain. He inevitably chose the latter as there were too many risks inherent in the surgery. That day I considered how life would be if my father were incapable of working, thought about how my mom would have to get a job, and imagined the new responsibilities that would emerge in the family. Angry at life, I believed dad did not deserve this cruel fate because he is a loving person who has always cared for, and placed, others before himself.

My dad does not want me to experience life as he has, performing physical labor for little recompense, so he would constantly remind me of how crucial a role education would play in my future. After two months in pain, his condition slightly improved, but he had to adjust his role at work since he could no longer lift heavy objects. I am grateful for having a person like my dad in my life because he cares deeply for me and my family: he truly embodies everything that a daughter would desire in a father.

I assisted my father at his restaurant during the summer of 2012 and that experience radically changed my perspective of the role of education in my life. Like many other teenagers, I had previously convinced myself that a superior education would secure a first-rate job without truly comprehending what it actually meant “to learn.” The feverish work required at the restaurant blew away that simplistic notion as the temperatures in the kitchen would rise as high as a hundred degrees. I can still remember how exhausted I was on the first day and I can still not believe that my father has been doing this for the past twenty-seven years. Undereducated, he had worked extensive hours for little recompense in order to earn a living and support our family. Stunned, I became conscious of the immediate reality wherein an education provides opportunities for me to better myself and does not exist as something to be taken for granted. I strongly desired to distance myself from a laborer’s world which demanded a great deal of work for little pay.

My experience with manual labor compelled me to rededicate myself to my education. I realized that a successful life would be contingent upon developing my intellectual abilities through education. Additionally, I was no longer only concerned about my work life, but also considered my future as a person. I truly believe that an education can make me a more knowledgeable person who can practically apply her learning in the real world. In the end, I only hope one day I will be able to release my father from his hardship through my newfound determination and resolution.

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Hello! I have created this slideshow which portrays a bit of who I am. This slideshow is a representation of my fondness for my family, shopping, cooking, traveling, The Halal Guys, playing video games, bowling, and riding bicycles. The first picture displays that my family is very dear to me and that I have deep affection for them. From the image, you could observe that the women are wearing hijabs which indicates  that my family is a follower of Islam. My parents mean the world to me because they have guided me throughout my whole life and when they aren’t with me at times I feel as though some part of me is missing.

To be honest, I am a shopaholic. I enjoy shopping with friends and family. They call me crazy when they see how much I spend, but what can one do to resist the temptation of buying things. I am the type of person who will go anywhere if you mention the word “shopping.” Another thing that I love to do is cook meals and bake. I take pleasure in cooking different meals with the aid of my mother. I usually bake cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pastries, pies, pudding, and brownies. Also, I like tasting different types of food, especially spicy food. In New York City. I love eating food from The Halal Guys located on 53rd street. Even though there’s always a huge line, I still wait because their food is just too good to resist. I always look forward to eating the spicy chili sauce that they provide.

Other hobbies that I have include bowling, playing video games, and bicycling. In high school, I was co-captain of the bowling team. It was an awesome experience playing against different high schools to reach the championship every year. Additionally, I play various video games in my spare time and cycle with friends around the city or parks.

Traveling to Bangladesh is something that I relish. Every time I go there, I have a great experience. I go to several beautiful sites such as Tea Gardens and resorts. I take delight in the arguing and bargaining that takes place at shopping centers. I like learning about the experiences of the poorer people and what they do in their everyday life to survive or support their families. Overall, I hope these aspects of my life has given you an idea of a Muslim girl from the Bronx named Nishat Ahmed.