Culture · Essay
A Misfit's Tale: Resilience and Triumph
Mohammad Abir Abbas left Bangladesh for Hannover to take a master's in software engineering. His account of the years that followed is the first story preserved in this collection.Written to last.
By Lorant Toth · 2026-04-23 · 6-minute readQuiet tools, kept out of the way.
Story preserved (no. 1), received from Mohammad Abir Abbas, Germany
One day, in the center of Hannover, Germany, I, Abir, aimed to study for a master's degree in software engineering from a tiny country named Bangladesh.
Who abandons family, friends, and homes to follow one person's dreams has no problem and is ready to face any difficulties I encounter.
The world got involved in the pandemic when the demanding academic processes began. In addition to the stress of meeting due dates and dealing with tasks, lively streets became deserted, and the active social life ceased to exist for a while. Loneliness took its permanent station in the lives of such patients, and the pressure asserted itself gravely.
Thus, I found myself slipping into a state of severe depressive disorder in the middle of the chaos. Continuous derealization made me a stranger to myself, erasing my communication, writing, and even thinking skills. About the difficulties that a person can face when suffering from hidden anxiety, I want to note the problem with memory and organization of work and daily routines.
However, a spark of fight still burned in a corner. I asked for assistance, put myself in wellness, and even went for treatment.
I did leadership training at AIESEC, and with the growth mentality I acquired from my Marketing position, I was promoted to Vice president of IGTA of the local committee in Hannover.
Upon settling the responsibilities, I was rewarded as a worthy member of AIESEC at Hannover; hence, I proceeded to Piscine at 42 Wolfsburg to actualize my childhood passions of working in software development and automobiles.
Endorsed by the beauty in the environment for accepting multiple failures, 42 Wolfsburg draws a general lesson to the responders, revealing that every failure is a start.
In this setting, I orate, umm, and err my way through the occasional public speaking assignment, fight the daily battle between passion and reason in the workplace, and perform the tango of the clock.
In this paper, the theme of survival for an outcast is investigated.
Surviving the Pandemic: October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and this year's theme is: 'Depression: Let's Talk'.
Leadership and Growth: The organization type was AIESEC Training and Vice Presidency in Hannover
Coding Dreams at 42 Wolfsburg: Not only is software development a long-term passion of mine,