A story of an International Student

I am remembering my dad tonight; he used to say" Rumman, you have to do something in your life for yourself and the society, make it remarkable." My mom said " life is too short, you may become something in your life, may be very highly influential someone but do not forget that you were born for a reason. You can achieve so many things in your life but if you are not a good and honest person everything will go in vein...never escape from your responsibility..." My dad is no more, he passed away last year. 5 April 2011, a red-letter day in my life when I came to know my election result that I got elected as Vice-President of LondonMet SU, literally five minutes before I came to know my dad had passed away which was not a natural death (he was kidnapped and afterwards killed on 29 March 2011 but we came to know a week later). I flew back home like an arrow to see my heart broken mom and only elder sister. We were shattered and drown in a magic reality. What a life. Spending around 4years to get my LLB (Hons) degree from LondonMet I could not visit my family, I could not see my old school friends. My dad was preparing to receive me with flowers as if he would be welcoming a champion or a hero. Alas, all his dream went away with him!

But no, I'm still here remembering his every single word. I'm obeying his words and dreams to make them real. I took the challenge and this challenge escorted me here today. My challenge taught me life is

very simple, they way you want to lead, it will be led. Yet, there are obstacles and we need to overcome all these. When we do so we can become a hero in our own life and history itself writes our own history.

A history was written by you all on 21 September 2012 and I am also a part of it, but why and how?

I came to the UK to become a Barrister-at-Law and LondonMet helped me to get a place in City Law School, City University London. Also, I have become a member of Honourable Lincolns Inn. Which is a dream and it is now history. On 17 September I sent an email to City University stating " Dear Sean, I hope you know the current situation with London Metropolitan University in relation to the revocation of Highly Trusted Sponsor Status. As an elected representative of the students' Union, I strongly feel like to stand in solidarity with International students as at this moment both home and international students need my support to represent them. It will not be ideal to lose out them on representation. After considering everything, though I may have to face some consequence in my personal life, I would like to defer my BPTC course for next year. I do apologise for the late notice and any inconvenience caused by me... " My naive sister told me why are you bothering yourself, just start your BPTC, finish and come back here, accomplish our dad’s dream. But I made her understand that these students who voted for me, who showed their respect towards me, I cannot leave them putting their lives at stake, how can I escape from my responsibility. Students are panicking, they need me now. Then she said, “ Sorry, I understand you now, okay my little brother, do your best to establish students' rights, do not stop the fight till it ends..."

Yes, I did not escape from my responsibility rather I declared I am ready to fight till my last breath." When I asked my fellow students “Are you with me?" they replied " yes, we are, we are also ready to fight till our last breath."

The history we made it is ongoing. From now on every step we make will be part of history. We will make sure in order to protect our prestigious British Education we will always be standby. My voice is not only mine, it is yours. I am listening to you in order to deliver. My action is your action, I am just driving it and you are my inspiration and driving force. I did not stop and I will never. It is just a beginning. We will walk side by side; we are enlightened by our victory. This victory is against the austerity.

I know a number of other International students come here to make their dream success so that when they go back home they can get a better future with a world class ticket (certificate). I know students who could not attend his mom’s funeral the way I could not even see my dad for the last time. I know the student who could not see his wife for the last time while she died giving birth a baby girl. I know the student who came to know his only little sister died while was preparing for the exam. I know stories more than these. I have written some tonight, you right tomorrow and we’ll put all the stories together and we will say in chorus “We’re not with mercy, show your curtsy”.

Syed Rumman

Vice-President ( Education)

London Metropolitan University Students' Union.