Tawhid Anwar
Tawhid Anwar, a mentor who never ceases to inspire. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He graduated from Brac University and was the valedictorian of the 15th Convocation. His story is proof that life often takes unexpected turns, leading us to places we never thought we would go.
It all began in 2018 when he discovered his love for teaching as a student tutor in room UB40202. “I never planned on being a teacher. UB40202 holds a special place in my heart because it made me realize teaching was my source of happiness. Witnessing students’ satisfaction after finally understanding a difficult topic during my classes worked as a catalyst, and from then on I knew teaching was my calling. Despite the title changing from ‘Tawhid Bhaiya’ to ‘Tawhid Sir’, I still strive to be the same approachable mentor. Whether it be about academic dilemmas or personal distress, many of my students knock on my office door for advice, and I am always happy to help.
In the midst of the pandemic and the sudden shift to online learning, I decided to create a lecture series on YouTube for CSE110 and CSE111 to help freshers grasp the basics despite the limitations of a physical classroom. This may be a wild guess, but I believe the series garnered much love and respect for me, and I am grateful for my students who have helped me reach where I am today. I have been asked on multiple occasions whether I have any plans to move abroad. The answer is always binary, just like the language of our computers. I am certain I want to stay in Bangladesh. Even if I take a brief detour for my PhD, this will always be my ultimate destination.
If there is one piece of advice that I would like to give to my students, it is this – never give up on your dreams. It is completely alright to be unsure of your career path, but giving up hope is never acceptable. All of the world’s data is at your fingertips; take your time and discover what gives you joy. If required, switch departments as it’s never too late to start following your heart. I can relate to this myself, as I initially enrolled in a non-engineering degree program that didn’t spark my interest. I prioritized my happiness and transferred to BracU in the summer of 2015, which turned out to be the best decision for me, evidently.
For anyone who wants to be an educator, I would say the most important attribute to acquire is patience. Everyone’s pace is different and so, a teacher should never feel agitated if a student does not grasp concepts on the first try. Believe me, the joy that I see on my student’s faces after they finally understand a topic is the highlight of my day. Hence, the effort is worth it!
And for my CSE students in particular, I encourage you to keep up with the evolving job market and to continuously upskill yourselves, gear up with the world and always be on the lookout for new skills to master. Finally, a bad CGPA is not the end of the world and should not make you want to give up. If your work profile has elements which matter to you, the world cannot stop you from achieving your goals!”
Tawhid Sir’s journey is a testament to the power of following one’s passions. His dedication to his students and his heart full of love for teaching are what set him apart as a truly exceptional mentor, a shining example of how a teacher can make a difference in the lives of their students and inspire them to reach their full potential.
