“On my graduating cap, I have the word ‘perseverance’ because that is was allowed me to go through all of those ordeals and obstacles to actually be at the point now where I’m able to have a job offer after graduation and graduate,” Washim said. “It was my parents who were the foundation.”

That journey of perseverance included spending a year in a work abroad program in Morocco, losing a co-op position because of restructuring and budget cuts, taking a year off from school, securing another co-op position, taking a full-time night job at Bank of America paying for his education out of pocket, being placed on academic probation, returning to his home country of Bangladesh, getting married and conquering a difficult course in microelectronics, clearing the way for his graduation.

Even though it took Washim twice as long as a typical Tech student, the experiences of the last 10 years have prepared him for future challenges.

“Tech will give you the best return on investment as a public institution,” Washim said.