After the publishing the SSC exam results, there are mixed reactions across the country, some are laughing with excitement, while others are sinking into a pit of despair. At a time, a true story can become a beacon of inspiration for many young people. One such story is that of Mehrab Hossain Robin, an ordinary boy from a remote village in Lakshmipur who getting a ‘C’ grade in English in SSC, is currently pursuing a PhD in Cyberspace Engineering at Louisiana Tech University in the US on a fully-funded scholarship.
The beginning of His Educational Career
Robin’s educational journey began in 2008 from Dalalar Bazar N. K. High School in Lakshmipur. Although he passed the science department, his GPA in SSC was only 3.88. The biggest setback came when he got only 2.0 in English, which was a ‘C’ grade. When many of his friends came into the discussion with GPA-5, Robin was in a state of despair and extreme scolding from his family.
He said,
‘‘পরিবার আমার ওপর এতটাই হতাশ হয়ে পড়েছিল যে, তাদের ধারণা জন্মেছিল আমি জীবনে কিছুই করতে পারব না। ভালো কলেজে ভর্তির সুযোগ না পেয়ে অনেকটা জোর করেই বাবা আমাকে লক্ষ্মীপুর পলিটেকনিক ইনস্টিটিউটে ভর্তি করান।’’
Translation: “My family was so disappointed in me that they thought I would never be able to do anything in life. Unable to get admission in a good college, my father forced me to get admitted to Lakshmipur Polytechnic Institute.”
Determination to Transform Humiliation into Strength
While studying at the Polytechnic Institute, the pressure of social neglect and attitudes seemed to be his daily companions. But it was here that Robin resolved to change himself. He identified his weaknesses and started working. Mathematics was his strength, and the weakness was lack of confidence in English and communication. To change himself, he joined the debate club, TIB’s Yes Group and various cultural organizations.
The fruits of this effort came in 2012, when he secured second place in the Diploma in Engineering examination with a CGPA of 3.60 out of 4.00.
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The Next Step in Technology and Education
After completing his diploma, Robin enrolled at Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) in Dhaka, where he completed his graduation in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. During this time, he got involved in various voluntary organizations and started dreaming of higher education abroad after coming in contact with successful people. However, English was still a big challenge for him.
He took various government trainings to improve his technical skills and started working as a freelancer on Upwork. However, repeated failures in the GRE and IELTS exams made his path difficult.
Reward for persistent efforts
Robin continued to learn English alongside his job. Finally, in 2021, his job experience and application for the ICCR scholarship from the Government of India were successful. He completed his Masters in Signal Processing and Digital Design at Delhi Technological University (DTU) in India.
During this time, he published three international standard research papers, which solidified and strengthened his academic profile.
PhD destination: America
Returning to Bangladesh in 2023, Robin rejoined Channel i and simultaneously applied for PhDs at various US universities. His application was successful. He received PhD offers from Sam Houston State University, Dakota State University, and Louisiana Tech University.
Finally, he moved to the United States in the fall semester of 2024, accepting a full-funded scholarship from Louisiana Tech University. He is currently researching post-quantum cybersecurity and blockchain technology.
For those who are disappointed with today’s results, Mehrab Hossain Robin said,
‘‘গ্রামের এক সাধারণ স্কুল থেকে কোনোরকমে পাশ করা, ইংরেজিতে আতঙ্ক নিয়ে বেড়ে ওঠা এক ডিপ্লোমা ইঞ্জিনিয়ার যদি সব বাধা পেরিয়ে আজ আমেরিকায় ফুল-ফান্ডিং নিয়ে পিএইচডি করতে পারে, তাহলে সঠিক লক্ষ্য, কঠোর পরিশ্রম আর অপমানকে শক্তিতে রূপান্তর করার মানসিকতা থাকলে তোমরাও পারবে। হতাশ হয়ো না। নিজের উপর বিশ্বাস রাখো এবং এগিয়ে চলো। স্বপ্ন পূরণ হবেই।’’
Translation: “If a diploma engineer who somehow passed from an ordinary school in the village, who grew up with a fear of English, can overcome all obstacles and do a PhD in America with full funding today, then you too can do it if you have the right goal, hard work, and the mindset to transform humiliation into strength. Don’t be disappointed. Believe in yourself and move forward. Your dreams will come true.”
Source: Channel i
