The arrival
The first lesson is often logistical
Ruqaiya Rahman came to UTM from Bangladesh looking for a new chapter. The academic plan was clear; the everyday systems were not. Transit, groceries and winter clothing all had to be learned from scratch.
Roommates, residence staff and campus centres filled in the missing instructions. Their help made the university legible enough for her to start taking risks.
The turn
Turn support into a route for others
Over four years, Rahman moved into roles with residence, the International Education Centre and Student Recruitment and Admissions. They were the same kinds of places where she had once asked beginner questions.
The work changed her confidence because it made support reciprocal. She could explain the route, but she could also tell which parts of it still assumed someone already knew the rules.
The advice
Invite people to try before they feel ready
Rahman encourages younger students to attend clubs and events early, and to change academic paths when the first plan no longer fits. Her own story makes that advice credible: a fresh start worked because a community kept making room for adjustment.
For alumni, the practical move is simple. Share the bus route, the first contact and the permission to ask a basic question. Those details can become someone else’s way into a home away from home.
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