Fatema's Journey: Overcoming Obstacles & Inspiring Women

Transitioning into graduate school can be difficult for everyone, but it can be especially challenging for international students starting a new life in a different country. Attending graduate school as an international student can come with a variety of obstacles ranging from homesickness to culture shock. Fatema Tuz Zohra, an international doctoral student from Bangladesh in the Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization program, faced her own unique set of obstacles during the shift into graduate school.

From an early age, Fatema faced adversity in her life in Bangladesh. Domestic violence is a common problem in Bangladesh, and Fatema experienced it while growing up.

“Our country is a male-dominated country. Many of the households have more or less domestic violence issues,” Fatema said of the commonality of domestic violence in Bangladesh. “I was brought up in a household where domestic violence was normal. My mom was the main victim of the domestic violence. [She] would always try to push me to study hard and get out of [that] situation. My mom didn’t graduate or have a degree, so she didn’t have financial security or even the courage to get out of [that] situation, but she never wanted me to be put in that same situation.”

Shortly after her daughter was born, and upon the loss of her mother, Fatema decided to leave Bangladesh and pursue graduate school. She wanted to set an example for her daughter and other women around the world by attending graduate school, building a solid career, and gaining the independence she wanted.

“I just wanted to be independent,” Fatema said regarding her motivation to join a graduate program at Texas State. “I felt like it was going in a cycle- my grandmother, my mom, then me, then my daughter- and I [thought] if I [didn’t] break the cycle, who [knew] if my daughter would break the cycle? I need[ed] to be the one who started making the change [because] I didn’t want my daughter to grow up like me. Even [though] my mom was not alive, I wanted to make sure that I could be that someone that she wanted to, but it wasn’t just for her, but for me, my daughter, and women as a whole.”

Fatema knew that going to school while having a toddler would be challenging, but that her newfound independence would be worth the struggle. Fatema recalled the overwhelming feelings she had upon arriving in the U.S., and how that joyous moment kept her going when life was complicated.

“I knew that with my daughter things were not going to be easy, but it was not impossible,” Fatema said. “The moment I landed at the Chicago Airport I felt this sense of freedom I have never felt. It was like I [was] the only one that [got] to decide what I [did] with my life from [then] on. It was such a sense of pleasure, freedom, and confidence. It was like- I have made it this far, I can handle the rest.”

It was not long after Fatema started her first semester at Texas State that she realized she had a unique set of experiences that she could use to help other international students.

“Everything related to my baby was a unique experience because none of the Bangladeshi community members (at Texas State) had any children. They didn’t have any knowledge regarding that. Since I was new here and didn’t know anyone who was a parent and going through [similar] stuff, I was figuring out all of that by myself.”

While acclimating to this new lifestyle, Fatema spent most of her spare time attending events held for international students and later became a panelist and moderator for the San Marcos Academic Success for International Graduate Students Panel. It was through this opportunity that Fatema was able to share her story, and give other international students with children advice on how to have a smoother transition.

“Every time the International Office held events, I would try to sneak in and meet people. That became my outlet,” Fatema recalled. “I wanted to contribute to my community in any way that I [could]. I felt like I had some unique experiences which were not very common, and unique struggles as a single mom here, and an international student. So, I thought that I could bring in a lot of [different] information.”

Fatema’s story has served as an inspiration to many international graduate students at Texas State. Her unique struggles coupled with her unrivaled tenacity have allowed her to accomplish her goals, not only academically and professionally, but also in having a remarkable impact on her community, and in setting an extraordinary example for women across the world.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at +1 800-799-7233 for help. For more information on events for international students please visit the International Student and Scholar Services’ (ISSS) website.