Gunjan
A student from Bangladesh, Gunjan came to the U.S. for safety and opportunity – and became the salutatorian of Manhattan Comprehensive and a CUNY Macaulay Honors Scholar.
Gunjan has always been drawn to the idea of business. Her father, a businessman in Bangladesh, sent his wife and two daughters to the U.S. a few years ago for greater safety and opportunity. Gunjan enrolled in Manhattan Comprehensive, started taking AP courses, and became a star student. She was determined to go to college and spent lots of time in the CYD office: “My advisor, Sebastian, helped me so much with my essays and with financial aid. He was always there for any type of questions.”
Gunjan was accepted to several colleges and chose Baruch College, where she is part of CUNY’s prestigious Macaulay Honors program and will study business in the city she now loves. Remembering her father’s office in her home country, she says, “I wanted to be in that chair! One day, I want a house, a dog, and my own swimming pool.”
During high school, she worked at Subway, where she learned that “it’s challenging to get people’s attention when you want them to try something new. But I like the idea of marketing as my career. I think I can convince people to get my stuff!” Gunjan is currently working at Dunkin Donuts and plans to continue working through college.
At her graduation, as salutatorian of Manhattan Comprehensive, Gunjan addressed her classmates with words she has clearly taken to heart: “Let’s start this new chapter of our life with dedication, courage, and a clear sense of direction.”
