In a faraway land…

A girl, aged seventeen, was plotting her escape.

Or, at least, that’s what it felt like as I submitted my application to Pace University. It was in New York, which felt electric and foreign in my mind, and yet timelessly familiar. New York was the subject of songs (Empire State of Mind, anyone?), the city of dreams, the home to giants—both literal and figurative.

I had never been to New York but I knew I wanted to be there more than anything else in the world.

I was being dramatic. But to be fair, I was also right.

Since then, I got two degrees, from Pace University and New York University, respectively, read my poems at open mic nights, explored endless coffee shops and restaurants, met one of my closest friends at a Taylor Swift dance party, fell on my back during a first date, and grew in ways beyond my imagination.

Today, as an Account Coordinator at Colangelo & Partners, I’ve channeled that same energy into my career in public relations. From crafting compelling narratives to building meaningful relationships, my journey in New York has been a launchpad for helping brands tell their stories in authentic and impactful ways.

It has been an incredible journey so far, starting from Bangladesh to here. I don’t know what this beautiful, brutal city will lead me to next, but I am so excited to find out.