Alumni

Leaders Then & Now: Jannathul Chowdhury

TYWLS Queens 2019 ● Hunter College Class of 2023 ● Education and History student, College and Career Coach

My director of college counseling was absolutely phenomenal! She inspired me to follow in her footsteps to support students as I’m a college coach today.

I’m now a senior at Hunter College, double majoring in Adolescent Education and History. I’m super excited that I’ll be graduating with my teaching certification quite soon. I have my wonderful teachers back at TYWLS to thank for inspiring me to pursue this career path. In college, I’ve been exposed to a multitude of resources to pursue my passions. I’m currently in two public policy-oriented honors programs and one Ed.M.-oriented fellowship.

Janna and her friend are taking a selfie on their graduation day. — Janna and her classmate from TYWLS Queens celebrate their graduation.

What I absolutely love about college is that there are opportunities left and right– you just have to be sure to utilize them! I’m also planning to attend graduate school after I earn my bachelor’s degree. I’m looking forward to seeing where my journey takes me!

Pursuing higher education has made a huge difference in my family and I will never take it for granted…It means a lot to me that I’ve been able to break barriers and only hope to go further.

Bridge Through College participants meet up at the SL Network central office with their peer leader, Janna. — Janna (center) meets up with Hunter College first-year students at SL Network’s central office.

I’m currently a Peer Leader for Bridge Through College at Student Leadership Network, counseling first and second-year Hunter students. I’m also currently a senior coach at College & Career Bridge For All, where I train college counselors to help over 4,000 students. Additionally, I’m conducting public policy research with Citizens Union in aims of making voting in New York more equitable and transparent.

As a South Asian woman, pursuing higher education has made a huge difference in my family and I will never take it for granted. Women in my family in all the generations before mine never received the privilege of pursuing their academic dreams as our culture tended to center a woman’s value on marriage and familial responsibilities. It means a lot to me that I’ve been able to break these barriers and only hope to go further. I strive to continue to push the youth to pursue their educational dreams and continue to make higher education equitable for all through all my future endeavors.