Dear Life

I know my family and friends have already filled Facebook with my graduation pictures 😅, so I guess it’s finally my turn to say something....

Almost two months ago, before I left, I wrote, “I’ll see you all on the other side.” Well… I guess this is the other side...❤️

Now that BMT is over, I can finally say it..., it was much harder than I ever imagined.. I had so, so many difficult days.. Days when I was physically exhausted, mentally drained, missing home terribly, and moments when I seriously asked myself, “Why did I sign up for this?” But somehow the days became weeks, and one day I realized we were almost done....
For me, BMT wasn’t really about making fun memories... Some days, my only goal was to get through that day, go to sleep, wake up, and somehow do it all over again... 😒

And maybe that’s exactly why finishing it means so much to me.

I grew up in Bangladesh, in a life where joining the military especially as a ordinary girl was never something that felt familiar or even imaginable to me... And now, somehow, I became the first person in my entire family to serve in the military...
There was no one before me whose footsteps I could follow, no family military stories I grew up hearing, and no one who could tell me what this experience would feel like... I walked into this completely unfamiliar world on my own...

So standing there in uniform on graduation day was emotional... Not because the journey was beautiful or easy, but because I knew what it took for me to stand there... 🥹❤️

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me, thought of me, sent letters, checked on my family, or supported me while I was away... Coming back after almost two months and seeing all the love meant more than I can explain. 😇

I left saying that I hoped to come back with a version of myself I had been working hard to become.... I’m still figuring out that version of me, but one thing I know for sure,

I made it to the other side. ❤️

BMT complete.... 👍

Now onto the next chapter 🤞✈️🇺🇸

Sometimes growth begins with stepping away from everything familiar...

For the next 2 months, I’ll be offline and away from social media... No phone, no updates..., just a challenge that has the potential to change me forever.... 🤞

The past few weeks have been emotionally heavy, and everything happened so quickly that I didn’t get the chance to meet everyone or say goodbye before leaving.... If I missed you, please don’t take it personally.... 🌼

If all goes well, I’ll return with stories to tell and a version of myself I’ve been working hard to become...

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I’ll see you all on the other side.... ❤️

I’m not even sure where to begin… my heart is so full.... ☺️

With my Beaumont chapter coming to an end and a whole new chapter beginning next week.., I can’t stop thinking about how blessed I’ve been to meet such incredible people along the way.... ❤️

Thank you all so much for such a beautiful farewell and for thinking of me in such a special way.... You made me feel so loved and appreciated.... 😍
Every little detail and every bit of effort you put into this meant more than you’ll ever know... I’ll carry all this love with me as I begin this new challenging chapter.... 😇

Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me, and giving me the confidence to take this next step... I’ll carry your love, prayers, and all the beautiful memories with me wherever I go.... 😊

Beaumont will always have a special place in my heart because of all of you..... Until we meet again... ❤️❤️

❤️

Snaps from one of the things I was most excited to do in Chicago, visiting Willis Tower.....🏙️

I’ve known for years that Fazlur Rahman Khan, a Bangladeshi-American engineer, was the genius behind the original Sears Tower.... So standing there in person felt a little extra special....

One of those moments that makes you feel proud and amazed at the same time. 🇧🇩🤍

📍 ℭ𝔥𝔦𝔠𝔞𝔤𝔬 𝔇𝔦𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰 | 𝔇𝔞𝔶 3

The day was spent walking around downtown and exploring its attractions....

Watching Argentina play today brought back one of my favorite memories...... 🥰🥰

In 2024, I had the chance to watch Argentina’s Copa América quarterfinal match from the stadium.... The atmosphere, the chants, the sea of blue and white, and seeing everything happen right in front of my eyes is something I’ll never forget... ☺️☺️

Today, I’m watching from the living room with family, and that’s special in its own way....
But some moments only happen once, and being there that day will always be one of those lifetime experiences I’ll carry with me forever.... 🇦🇷⚽💙

📍 ℭ𝔥𝔦𝔠𝔞𝔤𝔬 𝔇𝔦𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰 | 𝔇𝔞𝔶 2

Started the day a little late.., but we knew exactly where we wanted to go first… food.......... 😂

So we headed to Devon Avenue, where it felt like we had somehow landed back in a deshi neighborhood....
So many halal options.., familiar faces.., and familiar vibes everywhere 🥰

Spent the afternoon trying some famous spots and exploring the area before heading to Des Plaines to meet a friend.... ☺️

And because apparently we don’t know how to end a day early, we finished the night exploring downtown Chicago at midnight 🌃

That’s how we wrapped up Day 2 in Chicago 😇😇

🌸 See you in the next post for Day 3 ✌️✌️