By: AJ Naqib, Dissonant

Growing up and hearing stories about my dad and eldest sister struggling through life, I wanted a struggle story of my own - until I actually had one.

Let’s just say my life has not been a “typical” one so far. I am an immigrant, 8000 miles away from my roots - Bangladesh. But that’s not why my life has been so “interesting”. It’s interesting because I was forced to become an “adult” at the age of 16. Let me clarify.

I came to the United States 5 years ago and started high school, living under the roof of my sister’s family. Come senior year, I had to move out for family reasons. Here commences AJ’s struggle story, not necessarily the way I wanted my struggle tale to begin: Chapter Title - “5 jobs, 7 ‘homes’ in 9 months, false-diagnosis of cancer, The Posse Full-Tuition Leadership and Merit Scholarship, academic probation as a Salutatorian; a hint of ups with lots of downs, until I finally arrived at UW.”

Looking back at the past 5 years, one thing I’ve noticed about myself is that I adapt, and I adapt pretty well. I’ve learned a brand new language within my first year, well enough to say I don’t have an accent. I’ve taught myself to be a full-stack web developer before I even got to college. I’ve made some great friends whom I can count on for life. I’ve been adapting and finessing.

Adapting to UW-Madison was a tad bit complicated I’d say. Long story short, I got way too comfortable in high school as an adult and forgot how to be a student. But it’s safe to say that I’m systematically breaking the “bad habits” and learning to be a student again, a first-gen college student. As of now, I am pursuing a major in Computer Science with intended certificate in Mathematics and/or Entrepreneurship.

Adulting didn’t pause at UW, it was like a parallel thread running behind all the ongoing university agenda: having to find housing for every break, projecting budgets for bills, food, traveling to NY back-and-forth, you know, the typical stuff. During my low-lows, I remember someone cheering me up saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But it's awfully more difficult when you don’t have a pitcher. But then again, you can always engineer one”... (I’m an Enthusiast-Engineer at heart).