Episode 23: Raeesa Habiba Hossain

June 3, 2019

I was born and raised in Queens but moved to Bangladesh when I was five years old. I went to school there for three years, although we moved back and forth a bit. This was a really important part of my life because it brought me closer to my culture and made me care about wanting to help the people there.

One thing I want to eventually do with my career is to build a hospital with a trauma center in Bangladesh, which was my dad's ultimate’s dream. I always thought his dream was too ambitious and impossible to achieve, and now I feel so sad for him because it actually never happened. He passed away very suddenly two years ago. Since then, I’ve decided to make it my goal to accomplish his dream for him someday. 

I never meant to follow in my dad’s footsteps. He went to NYMC and practiced general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and emergency medicine. He was the only person that ever told me he wanted me to be a doctor, and everyone else in my family told me I could do whatever I wanted. So, I always thought medicine would be the last thing I would do. It’s funny because I am now interested in EM and surgery, and that’s exactly what my dad did.

I’ve had several obstacles throughout the last few years. My grandpa passed away my senior year of high school and my grandma passed away my sophomore year of college. I didn't realize how much my grandma’s death affected me until my grades dropped significantly. So, when my dad passed away my senior year of college, I had to prevent that from happening again because I knew it would be impossible to get into medical school if it did. I had the option to withdraw for the semester, but I powered through. I had a great support system, worked extremely hard and managed to do well that semester, even though I was grieving.

I took less than two weeks off of school after my dad passed away. When I returned to school, I felt like my friends were complaining about such trivial problems – the same things I used to complain about before – but after suffering such a traumatic loss, nothing else seemed to faze me anymore. I don’t cry when I fail a test because I’ve been through worse and I know I’ll get through this, too. There are so many people in the world that have it worse than me – people who have lost their entire families or barely have enough food to survive. I am so incredibly grateful, not just for the opportunities I've been given, but also for the fact that I have food to eat and a roof over my head. These are things that I used to take for granted, but I don't anymore because it could be so much worse. 

This was definitely an experience that made me realize how much strength everyone has within them that they don’t realize until they’re put to the test. We all live in this bubble where we expect life events to happen in a certain order. You expect to graduate college with both of your parents there, go to graduate school, get a job, get married, have kids, and then lose your parents decades later. My bubble was burst. Losing a parent is so different from losing anyone else. You truly cannot imagine the feeling until it actually happens to you, and I wouldn't want anyone to understand how it feels because it was the most painful experience of my life. Obviously, I would change it if I could, but I've grown so much from the experience and it has made me who I am today, and I don't regret that. I have become more positive, stronger, more resilient, and more grateful for all of the people that I still have in my life. I’m grateful to have had people that I loved so much that it hurt so much to lose them. It truly forced me to mature and catapulted me into adulthood. I feel more prepared and no longer afraid to face the challenges and obstacles that will undoubtedly be in my future. 

My mom is my best friend. I’m an only child and she raised me by herself because my parents were divorced when I was young. I feel like she kind of grew up with me, too, even though we're not close in age. She’s a pharmacist, owns her own business, and is involved in several other projects that I don't even know about. On top of that, she is so generous and thinks of what others need before they even think of it themselves. She's always trying to learn new things. She bought a Tesla because she thinks everyone’s going to be driving autopilot someday, and she wanted to learn how before she gets too old. She takes painting, Spanish and swimming classes. She has given me and taught me so much in only 23 years, and I am so lucky to call her my best friend, biggest supporter and role model. 

Being close to home and my family is a major reason I chose NYMC. We’ve had family dinners with my aunts, uncles, and cousins every Friday night for as long as I can remember, and I always laugh the most when I’m with them. Even though they’re technically my extended family, it feels wrong to say that because they’re more like my siblings and second parents. My cousins and I actually call each other brother and sister – they're my immediate family. 

What are your 5 Most Recently Played Artists?
Cardi B, Rihanna, J Balvin, Kanye West, and Beyoncé.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you choose?
Either time travel or teleportation. Time travel – so I could tell my younger self to prepare; I would have spent more time with my dad and grandparents if I knew. Teleportation – because I’m lazy, but also love traveling.

Pick something or someone from NYMC go give out a shout of to!
Camp Yolk Sac and The Cheetah Girls

If someone wanted to talk to you, they should lead with…
Literally anything except small talk – I want to actually get to know you. Tell me where you grew up, what makes you special, and your life goals.