Tian
“Being a woman of colour – especially a Muslim woman of colour – means breaking down those barriers our elder generations have built up for us and living truthfully to ourselves.”
Tian is family-oriented, driven, and passionate. She has tunnel vision when it comes to achieving her goals in life, canceling out the noise of outside opinion or commentary. She is focused on getting the most out of life — whether it is in her studies, travels, or friendships. Meet Tian. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
T: Hello! I am currently a first-year Master of Public Health student in beautiful British Columbia, Canada eagerly making my way through grad school. I am so deeply passionate about living life as your truest self without caring about the small-talk people may make about you (although I must admit it is sometimes incredibly, phenomenally, and excruciatingly difficult to do so). Along with that, I love helping my mother with her YouTube channel (I find these days it's the only time I can enjoy some quality time with her) and love doing interior design with my father. I LOVE TO COOK, I love photography, and as you can see, I also love typing in capitals ahaha
K: Describe yourself in your own words
T: I am an ambitious, empathetic, caring, and quite foolish human being if I do say so myself. I am a proud Muslim woman of colour who is also a friend to many, a daughter, a sister, an aunty, and an academic (or at least, we’re getting there). I can’t ever get enough of different culinary cuisines – like seriously, a true foody at heart here! I also am an avid explorer of the world around me whether that means travelling across the world (travelled to 11 countries so far…before the pandemic at least) or taking in a breath of fresh air and being present in my surrounding environment. Last but definitely not least, I am Bangladeshi and am proud of my cultural background. A word to all my true Bengali friends out there – tomader shobaike bhalobashi!
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
T: My drive and ambition are my favourite things about myself. I have a tendency to never give up and although sometimes this can be a weakness, it has never let me down. Life has thrown me many obstacles, sometimes I think even too many. But this has never ever disheartened me from acquiring success as I define it – and it shouldn’t ever dishearten anyone else either! As an example, I wanted to pursue graduate school ever since I could remember. I wanted to be just like my parents wearing those wizard gowns on the stage getting my Masters or PhD – honestly, how cool are those gowns! So I applied to my Master of Public Health (MPH) in 2019 and I didn’t receive a single acceptance letter. Fast forward a year later, I received 6 acceptances in 5 different universities across the country and I’m currently in my second semester of my MPH! I think strength, drive, and ambition can bring anyone a long ways through this journey we call life and I am always continuously trying to improve this (without burning myself out of course).
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
T: Definitely. I am very close with my dad, incredibly close. And when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, I was only 16 years old and it hit me very hard. I really didn’t know at the time how best to handle the situation because in my mind, cancer meant he would no longer be with us much longer. But it was this exact event that really shaped me into who I am today. I went from being a nervous wreck around anyone and anything to taking a stand for myself and learning to take the ropes. I felt like I had to suddenly become more independent so as to deal with my dad’s diagnosis. I had a sister and mother both who were grieving in their own ways and I knew I couldn’t break down, not yet at least. Thereafter, I have continuously worked on loving life, working on personal growth, and spending as much quality time as I can with my family. And thankfully, my dad is still here with us, still healthy, and still able to enjoy life with us. Strength and resilience have been key factors to a fruitful life for me and it has been evolving from that specific moment onwards.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
T: Don’t care about what other people think. Those desi aunties talking about your skin? Don’t care. Those girls in the community saying things about you to get others to unfriend you? Don’t care. Those grades that you received in your first year of university that you think define you? Do. Not. Care. My mother hates it when I say this, so I’m sorry mommy I know you’re going to read this, but I simply have stopped caring about what I know doesn’t matter to me and have started caring more about things that do. And I have never been happier. It took me a long time to realize I didn’t need to be the token cool kid with a thousand fake friends around me to be happy. Quality over quantity and that goes for pretty much anything in life.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
T: Being a woman means being strong, being resilient, and being 110% your own boss in whatever way you take it. In a world where women are often taught to speak down, be submissive, and lower our standards, it’s important to realize that there is so much more to being a woman and roamer of this Earth than society dilutes us down to. Being a woman of colour – especially a Muslim woman of colour – means breaking down those barriers our elder generations have built up for us and living truthfully to ourselves..
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
T: My mommy. She is…honestly, just amazing. The way that she has dealt with all that we have dealt with as a family, the way she carries herself, the way she provides for us, nurtures us, supports us, and loves us – it’s honestly unbelievable. If I am only 10% of the mother she is to my kids in the future I would be satisfied. I love her more than anything (ok, dad you know I love you too ahah) and I am lucky to have her guide me through this life. We have had our ups and downs but I can honestly say she’s my friend and I am incredibly grateful to the Almighty for blessing me with her, Alhamdulillah.