In our students’ educational journeys, there’s immense power in recognizing when to make a pivot. Meet Mohammed F., a CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) alumnus whose journey is marked by the courage to forge new paths when his original plans no longer served him, and a desire to share the knowledge he gained with younger students.
Transferring Colleges
From his days as a high school student at Manhattan Business Academy, a CBI partner school, to attending CUNY Hunter College to double major in human biology and psychology, Mohammed’s college and career journey has been marked by pivotal moments.
As a first-generation college student, his excitement at enrolling in college was dampened by a realization that his initial college choice wasn’t the right fit. Rather than ignoring this bump on the road, he took proactive steps to seek out a better-suited academic setting. Unlike in high school, where there were resources from counseling staff and peers going through the same application process, transferring colleges was a solo endeavor. Mohammed had to figure out transfer credits, financial aid renewals, and other processes on his own.
Balancing School and Work
While thriving at Hunter, Mohammed knew the importance of gaining internship and work experience to his eventual success after college. He took on a demanding part-time job at a hospital that began to affect his studies. Part of his growth was learning how to say no in a responsible way. “I was working 12-hour shifts on the weekends and I wasn’t able to keep up with my assignments, I was getting very little sleep,” Mohammed shared. “I don’t want to be seen as a quitter and I was worried about leaving a bad impression. But my supervisor was really supportive and understanding that my academics came first. It was a surprise to end a job on good terms like that.” Today, he’s found roles more aligned with his passions and with more flexibility to accommodate his college schedule. He is balancing part-time work as a research assistant at Hunter and a care coordinator at NYC Health and Hospitals.
Becoming a Peer Leader
Mohammed’s journey is also about paying it forward. Recognizing the struggles of navigating college beyond academics, he chooses to help others with similar experiences. Student Leadership Network’s Bridge Through College initiative was not yet available to him when he started college, but as the program expanded to support more schools, he jumped at the chance to help others as a Peer Leader. Now, he guides other CBI alumni who are enrolled at City College and Bronx Community College.
I am here so others don’t have to go through the struggles alone.
Mohammed on becoming a Peer Leader
His perspective is enriched by his own sister’s experience attending a community college. “I’ve seen how people might perceive community colleges as somehow ‘less than’ a senior college, but it’s not that one is better than the other. It’s about what you need out of the education you choose,” said Mohammed. He is determined to bridge the gap between different college populations as a Peer Leader, seeking to create a supportive community where all students, regardless of their educational backgrounds, can connect and thrive. “I remind students about college processes like class registration deadlines so they stay on track, but we also text about what people dressed up as for Halloween and I co-hosted a movie night. You need to balance academics with ways to find common interests to connect.” He has also cited the Peer Leader program as a way for him to find his community, meet new friends, and find familiar faces in class.
With a desire to make college an enjoyable and successful experience for all, Mohammed reassures his peers: “I am here so you do not have to go through the struggles alone.” Recognizing when a shift in direction is necessary has been his approach to life’s challenges. Through the power of pivoting, he reminds fellow alumni that carving their educational and career paths is a lifelong journey, and there will always be opportunities to change and grow.
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