Hey there, I'm Bushra Rahman, originally from Bangladesh, but I've been in the States since I was ten years old. Man, it was a whole new world when I first got here. I mean, I barely spoke the language, and trying to put together a sentence was like a puzzle nobody could solve. Middle school was a defining time for me when I landed in New York City. I attended PS 52- The Magnet School for Innovation, Exploration, and Engineering. I was loving it, but English was still a bit of a challenge. During this time, I met this incredible friend who was my lifeline. I haven't talked to her in a while, but without her, I wouldn't be where I am today. She basically became my English tutor, and I owe her a ton. Then, things changed when I moved to Buffalo. It was a rough transition because all of my family was back in NYC, and it felt like a fresh start. In Buffalo, I attended PS 94 West Hertel Academy, and it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. I got bullied badly because of my language struggles and I smelled like curry all the time because my mother cooked with curry. It was demoralizing, and my school performance suffered as a result. It was hard to find someone who spoke Bengali at that school. Fast forward to my middle school years, things got easier as my English improved, and I discovered my passion for art. I had some awesome art teachers who helped me along the way, especially Mr. Wright. He was the bomb; he even let me stay after school to work on projects. By eighth grade, I was having a blast with art. It was something I'd always liked, but I never really found my style until Mr. Wright guided me. High school at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts was... well, it had its ups and downs. Let's just say, art was the highlight, and I'll leave it at that. After high school, I desperately wanted to return to NYC, but my guidance counselor suggested I sign up for EOP while applying for colleges. I didn't know much about it, but she promised I'd meet people I could relate to. That was a game-changer. I'm now at Buffalo State University, thanks to EOP. I found my family there, people who understand the same struggles, and who are all about making their lives and others' lives amazing. EOP has been a game-changer for me. I am now an EOP SUNY Ambassador for the academic year
2023-2024, and I believe that everything that comes my way is a blessing. I absolutely love my EOP family and giving back anyway I can. Thank you EOP of being there for me!
