When reflecting on their academic journey, Aislin 鈥淎sh鈥 Bass-Adams is reminded of how much their background and passions have shaped their path. Born in the Western desert of Australia and having lived in Johannesburg, South Africa for several years before moving to New York City, Ash now proudly calls themselves a New Yorker after twelve years in the city. Despite their deep connection to New York, their love for their hometown remains strong.
Currently in their senior year at the Colin Powell School, Ash is completing their BA/MA in Psychology,鈥 Read More 禄
Please share a little about your background.
I immigrated from South Korea to the United States with my family when I was five years old. Navigating the space between two cultures 鈥 speaking Korean at home while learning English at school 鈥 was challenging, but it shaped the way I approached learning, problem-solving, and adapting to different environments. As I grew older, I gained a deeper appreciation for my family鈥檚 sacrifices and became more aware of the barriers that exist for many others trying to create new opportunities. Those鈥 Read More 禄
Erick Martinez, a senior at the Colin Powell School, is a testament to resilience and ambition. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City鈥檚 vibrant Dyckman neighborhood, Erick鈥檚 journey has been shaped by the unwavering support of his parents. His mother, an entrepreneur running a daycare business, instilled in him the value of perseverance, especially during challenging times like the pandemic. Meanwhile, his father nurtured his love for motorsports, sparking Erick鈥檚 dream of one day working in prestigious series such as NASCAR,鈥 Read More 禄
Wanda Luis: Resilience, Dreams, and the Power of Belonging at CCNY
Wanda Luis, a proud first-generation Dominican-American and lifelong New Yorker, embodies resilience and determination. After earning her associate degree at Bronx Community College, she transferred to CCNY in 2016. Life鈥檚 demands led her to pause her studies in 2017 to work full-time and support her family. But Wanda鈥檚 dream of becoming a licensed mental health therapist called her back to CCNY, where she鈥檚 reclaiming her story and redefining what鈥檚 possible.
Growing Up with鈥 Read More 禄
From High School Dreams to The New York Times: Fairuz Omar Raya鈥檚 Journalism Journey
Meet Fairuz Omar Raya, a sophomore at City College of New York (CCNY), who is turning her passion for storytelling into a promising journalism career. Majoring in Political Science and minoring in Journalism, Fairuz has already secured remarkable accomplishments, including her acceptance into the New York Times Corps program and the NBCU Academy and Inner Circle Journalism Fellowship.
From Early Inspiration to a Journalism Calling
As a Bangladeshi-American鈥 Read More 禄
Carolina Fernandez: Building a Future in Finance Rooted in Family and Resilience
Carolina Fernandez (she/her) is a third-year economics student at CCNY with a passion for finance and a strong drive to pave the way for her family's legacy. Born and raised in New York's Kingsbridge neighborhood, Carolina is the youngest of three and the first in her family to pursue a degree in the U.S. Her Dominican American roots and the resilience of her parents have deeply influenced her journey.
A Journey Shaped by Family and Ambition
Growing up across from the鈥 Read More 禄
From Syria to NYC: Reem Aliessa鈥檚 Journey in International Studies and Social Responsibility
Reem Aliessa 鈥14 was born and raised in NYC to Syrian immigrant parents. Her passion for International Studies was shaped in large part by her family鈥檚 Arab-American identity and nurtured by the resources and opportunities at the Colin Powell School. Today, she works as the Vice President and Senior Program Manager at Citi Volunteers, where she leverages her education and experiences to make a positive social impact. Her journey from CCNY to a leadership role鈥 Read More 禄
Crossing Horizons: Anson Cheuk-Hin Chung's Journey in Political Science
Anson Cheuk-Hin Chung, a 2022 graduate of CCNY in Political Science and History, is currently pursuing an MA in Political Science at the University of Toronto.
Where are you from, and what is your background story? Please share your details from the period before you arrived at CCNY.
I was born and raised in Hong Kong and immigrated to New York City when I was fifteen. Before my migration in 2016, Hong Kong had experienced several social movements, including the 2014鈥 Read More 禄
Nushrat Bushra: A Personal Journey to Mental Health Advocacy
Please share a little about your background 鈥 what鈥檚 your story?
I am a first-generation college student, born and raised in Bangladesh. I moved to the USA at the age of 12, entering a completely new environment. Initially, adapting was challenging due to the cultural and religious differences. It took some time to feel comfortable here, especially without any friends and having left my brother and relatives back in Bangladesh. Language was another significant hurdle. Although I could鈥 Read More 禄
Steven Fernandez
Major: Economics and Business
Please share a little about your background 鈥 what鈥檚 your story?
I'm currently a graduating senior at the Colin Powell School, majoring in economics with a concentration in finance. I was born in the beautiful Dominican Republic and spent my early years in the rural countryside (i.e., 鈥渃ampo鈥). In 2007, when I was six, my family and I moved to New York. We settled in the vibrant and diverse neighborhoods of Inwood and Washington Heights. Our years in upper Manhattan have brought about their fair share鈥 Read More 禄
Last Updated: 01/31/2020 15:52