THE STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

IT’S NEVER EASY TO START A NEW PHASE of your life. It wasn’t easy for me to move 8,000 miles from Bangladesh to Tampa, and it can’t be easy even if college is just eight miles down the street. However, becoming part of the USF Judy Genshaft Honors College was the best decision I made when starting my college journey.

I found my community through the Judy Genshaft Honors College Student Council (JGHCSC), which I joined in my very first year. It can be daunting to put yourself out there, but I found a sense of purpose in being a part of something bigger than myself. Throughout the years, I served as the Co-Chair of the Volunteer Committee, Community & Leadership Coordinator, and finally, President. With other council members, I gained experience volunteering within the Tampa Bay area, networking with community partners and faculty and staff of the Honors College, coordinating events, working with people from different backgrounds, facilitating discussions, and finally, leading. This is the place where I gained confidence in my abilities and grew as a leader. More importantly, this is where I met people I know will be my lifelong friends and mentors. During my time here, I’ve witnessed how hard our advisors and professors work for their students, and how much they care for our well-being. I encourage all new students to get involved in something they enjoy, and to find mentors to guide them along the way.

The JGHC offers a multitude of scholarships and study abroad opportunities that urge students to explore their interests and passions, which helps to figure out your ultimate goals in life. Study abroad is a cornerstone of the college, for purposes ranging from service to education to research. I had the unique opportunity to use my study abroad experience to conduct research in my home country, which made me realize my passions lie in water conservation. As a recipient of the Genshaft-Greenbaum Global Explorer Award, I was able to investigate the extent of fecal pollution of the Buriganga River in Bangladesh, under the guidance of the Harwood Lab. I will always be grateful for this experience because I got to use the knowledge I acquired here to address issues prevalent in Bangladesh.

Like me, each of you brings a unique perspective to the Honors College — an amalgamation of your lived experiences, your background, your thoughts, your identity. I know I had never felt more pride and joy during my college experience than when I stood on stage during Honors Convocation clad in my traditional Bangladeshi sari, being so unapologetically me, and delivered words of encouragement to the new class of freshmen as the first international student President of the JGHCSC. If I could leave you with just one piece of advice, it would be to stay true to your roots and own who you are. That individuality is what makes you so special and contributes to the special culture of our Judy Genshaft Honors College.

This issue of the Mosaic features stories written by many of my student colleagues, sharing their own Honors experience. I hope you enjoy reading their perspectives, how they have expanded their horizons and intellectual capacity through all the interdisciplinary courses, experienced new cultures through traveling abroad, grown professionally and personally through leadership opportunities, and made the best memories with the best people you’ll find. No matter how far we travelled to get here, we’re all lucky to call the Judy Genshaft Honors College home!

Class of

Cell and Molecular Biology Major

Environmental Science and Policy & Biomedical Anthropology Minor