Finding Home in the Forks: My Grand Forks Story
When I moved to Grand Forks in 2019 from Bangladesh to pursue my master’s degree at the University of North Dakota, I arrived with both excitement and uncertainty. As a visibly Muslim, brown, hijabi woman in a predominantly white space, I carried with me an understandable sense of hesitation. To add to the complexity, I was six months pregnant and stepping into an unfamiliar environment, new school, new city, and new cultural norms.
I wasn’t sure how I would be received academically, socially, or even professionally. I had just started working as a graduate teaching assistant in the English Department, and I worried about how my pregnancy might be perceived. But those fears began to melt away, much like the snow I would soon encounter for the first time.
The kindness I received in those early days was transformative. When I informed my graduate director about my pregnancy, he immediately reassured me: “There’s nothing to worry about.” And he meant it. The entire department rallied behind me checking in, offering support, and reminding me that I wasn’t alone. I still remember a day when snow blanketed the roads, and my composition director emailed me saying that I didn’t need to attend the class that day as the roads were still very slippery from the heavy snowfall. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about the thoughtfulness of this community.
When my son was born later that winter, I was nervous about how I would keep up with grading and coursework. But again, I was reminded of what makes Grand Forks so special. My professor told me, “Take care of yourself and your baby. That’s what matters right now.” That kind of grace, empathy, and understanding is woven deeply into the culture here.
In the days that followed my arrival, I had many moments of learning and adjusting. I vividly remember getting lost on my third day, trying to find my way back to my campus apartment after dark. In a moment of panic, I approached a campus police officer and explained I couldn’t find my way home. Without hesitation, he helped me locate the apartment and made sure I got back safely. It was a simple act of kindness, but for someone new, nervous, and far from home, it meant everything.
Now, six years later, Grand Forks isn’t just a place where I go to school, it’s my home. I’m currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Teaching and Leadership at UND, and as I reflect on my journey, I realize that this city has helped me not just as a scholar, but as a mother, a teacher, and a community member.
I remember one winter night during a snowstorm; my husband’s car battery froze while he was out. He flagged down a driver for help, who didn’t have a jump starter with him but said he had one at home. To our surprise, he came back 15 minutes later with it and helped my husband get the car running again in the freezing cold. That’s just the kind of neighborliness that lives here. That’s Grand Forks.
