02/10/2026
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๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | What Lies Beyond?
A life across borders is not always a bad thing.
Like a river finding its way through rocks and changing currents, Monjur Rahmanโs journey was never a straight path. It carried uncertainty, hardship, and unexpected turns, but he continued to move forward, even when he was unsure of where the path would lead him.
His story began with a simple dream: to learn and continue his education. Introduced to school at an early age, Monjurโs education was interrupted when he lost certain documents, making it difficult for him to continue his studies. After some time, his parents managed to send him back to school.
But in 2017, his education was interrupted again. Due to political circumstances in Myanmar, he was forced to leave his home and seek refuge in Bangladesh. Leaving meant being separated from his family, loved ones, and the life he had known.
In Bangladesh, opportunities for education were limited. Still, Monjur continued learning and pushing himself forward. He also spent almost five years working in the humanitarian sector, where he worked with children, youth, and his community.
His experiences eventually shaped his decision to study Social Work. For him, helping people was not only about volunteering. He wanted to understand the systems and policies that affect communities and learn how he could contribute to creating change.
Then came an opportunity that would take him to a new country: the Philippines.
Monjur learned about the opportunity through the Refugee Higher Education Access Program (REAP), which prepared displaced students for university through areas such as academic writing and research. Through the program, he was given the opportunity to pursue higher education in the Philippines.
As a Rohingya scholar and first-year Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) student at Columban College, Inc., Monjur stepped into a new environment far from home. But starting again was not easy.
Coming to the Philippines meant adjusting to a different culture, language, and environment while being away from his family. On his first day at Columban College, he sat at the farthest seat, nervous and unsure of how to introduce himself or interact with his classmates.
Then, something changed.
His classmates approached him, talked to him, and tried to make him feel comfortable. Even during Filipino class, his friends quietly translated Tagalog words for him, helping him understand the lesson and become part of the class.
For Monjur, these small acts of kindness became some of his most memorable experiences in the Philippines. They showed him that even a simple effort to talk to someone who feels uncomfortable or invite someone to join can leave a lasting impact.
โIf I could compare my life to three words, it would be hope, determination, and belonging,โ Monjur said.
For him, these words reflect more than his experience as a student. They represent the journey that brought him from interrupted education and displacement to a new beginning in the Philippines.
Yet his journey is not only about what he can gain for himself. Monjur sees being given the opportunity to study as a responsibility. While preparing for a better future for himself and his family, he also thinks about the people who are still waiting for the same opportunity, including Rohingya students in the camps in Coxโs Bazar and elsewhere.
He does not see the scholarship simply as a personal trophy. Instead, he hopes to keep the momentum going and create opportunities for others who are still waiting for their chance to pursue higher education.
His journey continues to flow like a river. The current may change, and the path may remain uncertain, but Monjur keeps moving forward, carrying with him not only his own dream of education, but also the hope of opening a path for those who are still waiting to cross their own borders.
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โ Trisha Mae Cabalic | Staff Writer
๐ท Janah Cathrina Meba | Staff Photojournalist
๐ป Angustia Juelle Danao | Editor-in-Chief
