Nahida Nworen, research, evaluation and assessment assistant for St. Cloud Area School District, has been paving her own path her entire life. Having recently graduated from St. Cloud State University (SCSU) and working with the Mayor’s Office, Nworen involves herself in the community.
Nworen moved to the United States from Bangladesh to attend college. It was a big change for her.
“I moved here in 2015- January. Everything was snow and ice,” remembers Nworen. “I’d never seen snow before that. It was really crazy!”
Coming from an educational system which makes students choose a career path by eighth-grade, Nworen was on the road to becoming a nurse. However, after studying science for four years in high school and continuing those studies at SCSU, she quickly felt like she was studying the “same thing over and over again.”
On a whim, she decided to take a political science course.
“It’s totally different,” says Nworen. “I knew my parents would be really mad. I’m the first person who actually graduated high school in my entire family. I’d be the first person to go to college and then I take political science? It was a big deal.”
She told her parents she wanted to change majors after taking a few political science courses. Once the initial shock wore off, her parents assured her they wanted her to do what made her happy. So she switched directions and immersed herself into campus life.
Nworen participated in eight different organizations during college, was president of two of those organizations and was also involved in student government. It wasn’t long before she spread her wings to get involved outside of campus life.
“When I started . . . [interning] at the Mayor’s Office, I got to know the St. Cloud community more,” says Nworen. “I really like how people are welcoming here. I never felt like an outsider.”
During her time at SCSU, Nworen had the opportunity to work at Lincoln Elementary School, Oak Hill Community School and both North and South Junior High Schools. She really enjoyed the students. She began to see the connection between the community and its educational system.
Upon graduation and being named the student commencement speaker, Nworen had several interviews and job offers, but after interviewing and speaking with Dr. Sylvia Huff, research, evaluation and assessment director for District 742, Nworen knew District 742 was the right fit for her.
Since last fall, Nworen has been working by Huff’s side, in addition to staying involved in the community, such as the Jugaad Leadership Program, a program that teaches leadership skills to diverse students and encourages them to be involved within their community. She was recently awarded the prestigious Excellence in Leadership Award by St. Cloud State University. Only 25 nominated students are chosen each year for the award.
“Now, my parents are really proud of me,” says Nworen. “Especially after seeing how far I’ve come. … They don’t necessarily understand everything coming from a different education system, but when they see my picture, they say, ‘Oh, that’s my daughter!'”
Nworen loves the work she is doing for District 742, especially reviewing results from surveys. She feels by learning how students, staff and the community engage with the school district, she can help guide efforts to create greater partnerships. By doing so, she’ll continue to pave her own way, work in the community and make her parents proud.
Nworen receives her Excellence in Leadership Award.
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