Building Myself While Studying Business

I didn’t come to Hungary with a perfect plan.
I came with curiosity, a scholarship, and the hope that somewhere along the way, things would start making sense.

Growing up in Bangladesh, I was always drawn to media, storytelling, and international cultures. I loved observing how people communicated, how ideas travelled, and how stories shaped perspectives. Still, like many students back home, I followed the “safe” academic route and studied science, even though deep down I knew my interests lived elsewhere.

Business felt like a bridge.
Studying abroad felt like a leap.

Hungary, and eventually the University of Pécs, Faculty of Business and Economics, became the place where both met.

But my first semester was humbling. I had never studied in English before, and suddenly I was expected to understand economics, statistics, and management at a fast pace. I struggled. I doubted myself. I questioned whether I truly belonged in those classrooms.

But here’s something I learned early on: struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re adjusting.

That first semester wasn’t about achievement. It was about learning how to exist in a new environment. I was figuring out how to navigate a new academic system, and how to build a routine in a country that was still unfamiliar. Looking back, that phase taught me something crucial. Growth doesn’t happen all at once. Sometimes, it starts with simply staying.

Finding My Voice

By my second semester, something shifted. I felt a little more grounded and a little more confident. I wasn’t just trying to survive university life anymore. I wanted to be part of it.

That was when I became a student representative.

It was my first real leadership role, and it changed how I saw myself. Representing my classmates, communicating with professors, and being part of academic discussions pushed me far beyond my comfort zone. I learned how to speak up, how to listen carefully, and how to advocate for others while still respecting different perspectives.

More than anything, it showed me that being present actually matters.

Saying Yes to Involvement

Not long after, I joined ESN Pécs as a volunteer. At first, it was simply a way to meet people and get involved. But the more time I spent there, the more I realised how much learning was happening outside the classroom.

Through event planning, teamwork, and problem-solving, I was developing skills I didn’t even know I was building. After volunteering for a while, I stepped into a coordinator role, which brought a new level of responsibility. People relied on me, decisions mattered, and I learned quickly that leadership isn’t about having answers. It’s about showing up consistently.

Around the same time, I felt a growing urge to do something for my faculty as well. I was already connected with professors and classmates, and when the International Student Organisation was being formed, it felt like the right moment to contribute.

Building Leadership from the Ground Up

I became one of the first board members of ISO, starting as Treasurer and later serving as Vice President. That journey shaped the core of my leadership experience.

Organising events for students, classmates, and professors meant handling everything. From managing team members to coordinating logistics, budgeting, promotion, and even ordering food, every task carried a lesson. I learned that leadership is often unglamorous, detailed, and demanding, but also deeply rewarding.

That phase taught me something I still carry with me today. You don’t learn leadership by waiting to feel ready. You learn it by doing.

Balancing Reality with Ambition

While all of this was happening, life didn’t slow down. Like many international students, I had to work to support myself. I worked as a cashier and waitress to pay rent and cover daily expenses. Balancing work, studies, and extracurricular activities was exhausting at times, but it taught me discipline and resilience.

Eventually, I reached a point where I wanted my work to align more closely with my field of study. So, I did something simple but important. I asked.

I spoke to professors and asked if there were any opportunities available. By then, they already knew me. Not because I asked once, but because I had been consistently active, engaged, and visible over time.

Turning Activity into Opportunity

Over the semesters, I was participating in business competitions, hosting events, contributing actively to class, and working closely with faculty initiatives. That consistency mattered.

Eventually, I was asked to join the faculty as an International Alumni Coordinator. It was a role that felt surprisingly natural. I worked on alumni podcasts, blogs, interviews, and social media content, connecting student stories with professional journeys.

At the same time, I was also working with the university’s marketing department, creating TikTok content and digital materials tailored to students. What began as a hobby slowly became professional experience. Doing something you love seriously and consistently can turn passion into skill.

When Networking Comes Full Circle

Toward the later stages of my journey, I was scouted to work for a Hungarian consulting firm, where I managed an international program and worked with banks and insurance companies. That role added a new layer to my understanding of corporate environments and professional responsibility.

Later, I joined the Global Startup Awards, another unexpected but exciting chapter. The person who hired me turned out to be an alumnus I had previously interviewed for a podcast during my time as an alumni coordinator. That moment made something very clear to me. Networking isn’t about collecting contacts. It’s about building genuine connections over time.

Looking Back

Academically, my journey didn’t start smoothly. But through consistency, effort, and persistence, I’m graduating with a degree I’m genuinely proud of. Not because it was easy, but because I stayed committed.

The University of Pécs gave me more than academic knowledge. It gave me confidence, perspective, friendships, and the freedom to grow at my own pace. I struggled, I worked hard, I travelled, I attended events, I met people who changed my life, and through it all, I kept moving forward.

A Letter to Future Students

To my fellow students who are just starting out:

Give yourself time.
Say yes before you feel ready.
Get involved, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Balance your responsibilities, but don’t forget to enjoy the experience.

Study hard, work honestly, build friendships, travel when you can, attend events, and learn from every role you take on.

And yes, party hard, but dream even harder.

University isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about becoming confident enough to take the next step, wherever that may lead.