08/19/2026
10 years ago, I was a line cook at a friend’s restaurant because I had nowhere else to go.
My parents and I had gone our separate ways, and I had to start over from scratch.
Growing up, I never truly understood the value of hard work. My parents worked hard so I didn’t have to struggle the way they did. Looking back, I took a lot of things for granted.
Then life humbled me.
I had a family to take care of, bills to pay, and no choice but to put my head down and get to work.
There were years filled with shame, doubt, guilt, and embarrassment. I felt lost. I felt like the underdog. I watched friends and family succeed academically, build careers, and find financial stability while I was still trying to figure out who I was and where I belonged.
But instead of looking for shortcuts, I chose discipline.
I chose to show up.
I chose to earn every small victory.
No handouts. No easy way out.
Fast forward 10 years, and I’m now more than 3½ years into owning my own business, and I’m still standing.
The truth is, I’ve carried that underdog mentality my entire life. But instead of letting it break me, I used it as fuel.
And now, all those years of hard work are finally starting to make some noise.
I’m grateful for every setback because it taught me resilience. Plus being a Bangladeshi American, resilience is in my blood. 🇧🇩🩸 I’m grateful for every difficult season because it forced me to grow.
But the work isn’t finished.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
Never doubt yourself, even if the whole world turns its back on you.
Keep showing up. Your story isn’t over yet. 💯🙏🏾
