NAF Rising Senior On Fast Track to Successful Future

Ever since I was a child, my parents had big aspirations for my future – from getting accepted into a specialized high school to becoming a doctor. Living in Bangladesh, my parents never got the opportunity to finish college or pursue their desired career, so they made the decision to immigrate to the United States in order to provide a better life for their children.

I came into the High School of Economics and Finance without a single clue of what I wanted to be, and hoped that this school would allow me to make discoveries and pave my career path. Being exposed to the variety of business courses that were offered, NAF enhanced my knowledge of the corporate world.

All my life I dreamt about ways to counteract some of the prejudices surrounding the Muslim community, and after 9/11, I witnessed firsthand that difficulty that the women in my community and family faced in choosing whether or not to wear a hijab. The opportunity presented itself when my entrepreneurship course allowed me to create a business plan to fulfill my dream and through that assignment, I became the CEO/Co-Founder of URBANAlifa Hijabs with my class partner and friend, Urbana. We chose to create a business that would allow Muslim women to design their very own customized hijab, allowing them to express their individuality while conserving their religious duties. Through this journey, we have also participated in school, state, and national competitions, showcasing our custom hijabs and winning funds to continue developing designs. We even traveled to the White House to share our story!

Some of the highlights of being part of NAF’s Academy of Finance at the High School of Economics and Finance have included attending job shadowing events, taking an accounting course, and completing an internship. This summer, I joined NAF’s Marketing and Communications department as an intern which has allowed me to gain a broader understanding of NAF’s mission and core values. I’ve had the chance to work on promotion and outreach, discuss marketing initiatives, enhance my knowledge about financial literacy, and create posts for NAF’s social media platforms to promote education on a wider scale – all skills that will be applicable to growing my business.

If it weren’t for my amazing high school and being part of NAF, I wouldn’t have made it this far. If I didn’t attend the High School of Economics and Finance, I wouldn’t have had my very own business nor would I have earned the knowledge and skills to help create and surpass my own set of expectations. I plan to go to college and study marketing and eventually become a financial analyst and an entrepreneur.

My advice? “Don’t let anyone discourage you – It’s never too late to become an entrepreneur or anything that your heart desires.”