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’s vibrant Dyckman neighborhood, Erick’s 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’s dream of one day working in prestigious series such as NASCAR,… Read More »
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’s demands led her to pause her studies in 2017 to work full-time and support her family. But Wanda’s dream of becoming a licensed mental health therapist called her back to CCNY, where she’s reclaiming her story and redefining what’s possible.
Growing Up with… Read More »
From High School Dreams to The New York Times: Fairuz Omar Raya’s 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… Read More »
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… Read More »
From Syria to NYC: Reem Aliessa’s Journey in International Studies and Social Responsibility
Reem Aliessa ‘14 was born and raised in NYC to Syrian immigrant parents. Her passion for International Studies was shaped in large part by her family’s 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… Read More »
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… Read More »
Nushrat Bushra: A Personal Journey to Mental Health Advocacy
Please share a little about your background — what’s 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… Read More »
Steven Fernandez
Major: Economics and Business
Please share a little about your background — what’s 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., “campo”). 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… Read More »
Sumaiya Rashid
Major: Psychology
Minor(s): Anthropology & International Studies
Please share a little about your background — what’s your story?
I am a child of two extremely hardworking Bangladeshi immigrants who came here to pursue opportunity and a chance for education. I am a first-generation college student, born and raised in Queens, where I was always immersed within a deeply diverse community. Due to my upbringing, I gained an extremely culturally conscious lens that I apply to my personal, professional, and academic career. … Read More »
Ziné Ebersohn
Majors: Psychology and Philosophy
Please share a little about your background — what’s your story?
I grew up in a small town in South Africa with parents who worked extremely hard to provide a life of love and opportunities for my brother and me. From a young age I have always been interested in listening to other people’s stories and I found my way to the stage and performing. After high school I got a scholarship to study acting in New York and that was the start of my scholarly intimacy with human behavior and the bigger questions… Read More »
Last Updated: 01/31/2020 15:52