Originally from Dinajpur, A B M Sadab Ul Bari’s sense of identity was shaped early by a desire to serve people who are often unheard or unseen. That motivation initially led him towards the military, which he believed was the most direct way to serve his country at eighteen.

He applied to both the Bangladesh Navy and the Air Force, only to be disqualified twice on medical grounds. What felt like an ending slowly revealed itself as a redirection.

Reflecting on that shift, he explained how witnessing systemic injustice pushed him towards law as another form of service. Similarly, he said, “To understand justice, one must first understand the system that delivers it.” With encouragement from his family and decisive guidance from his elder brother, he chose to study law at its source. As he recalled, “If you wish to practise law, learn it at its very source, where justice first found its modern voice.”

That advice ultimately carried him to the United Kingdom.

Family trust as the foundation

Like many Bangladeshi families, Sadab’s parents reacted with a quiet mix of pride and fear. Studying abroad meant uncertainty, distance, and sacrifice, but not discouragement.

Rather than standing in his way, they placed their trust in him. As he described it, “My parents stood at the edge of that decision with brave smiles and trembling hearts.” That trust, he believes, became the strongest form of support he carried with him.

When it came to the application and visa process, the most difficult part was not paperwork but uncertainty. The waiting, the lack of direction, and the knowledge that years of effort could hinge on unseen decision-makers weighed heavily.

Explaining that phase, he said, “The uncertainty. The silence between emails.” What troubled him most was not knowing where to begin or which choices would truly serve his future. Similarly, he reflected, “I felt as though I had stepped from a small, familiar pond into a vast and uncharted ocean, with no compass to guide me.”

Looking back, he is clear that guidance, had it come earlier, could have eased the burden significantly.

Persistence

Financial pressure became one of the defining realities of his journey. Coming from a lower-middle-class family, paying tuition in the UK for three years was never going to be easy.

While his family supported his initial costs and scholarships opened early doors, life quickly became a balancing act between work, study, and survival. As he explained, “There was no odd job I did not try; every obstacle I faced, I worked through with perseverance.”

There were moments when exhaustion and rejection felt overwhelming. Similarly, he said, “Yes, in the long nights when finances seemed impossible and rejection felt closer than success.” What kept him moving forward was a refusal to let his family’s sacrifices go to waste.

The hardest emotional moment came at departure. As a nineteen-year-old standing at Dhaka International Airport, he carried more than luggage. As he described vividly, “With little more than 23 kilograms of luggage, I carried not just my belongings but the story of nineteen years of life.”

Arriving in London brought cultural disorientation, loneliness, and the realisation that the struggle of international students extends far beyond academics. Similarly, he said, “For an international student, the struggle is never confined to academics.”

Learning through practice

Academically, one of the most striking differences was the emphasis on real-world experience alongside classroom learning. From his second year, Sadab volunteered at a law clinic, working directly with clients and observing legal professionals in practice.

This hands-on exposure reshaped his understanding of preparedness. As he put it, “By the time you graduate, you are not thrown into an ocean where you do not know how to swim.”

He also observed how part-time work is normalised in the UK, viewed as a tool for growth rather than a social limitation. Similarly, he noted, “In the UK, students are encouraged to take on jobs alongside their studies.” The major difference is with Bangladesh, where it is a social stigma to work, and it is very hard to even find one as a student.

Being Bangladeshi, he believes, shaped his resilience, humility, and work ethic. Growing up in a resource-limited environment fostered perseverance and gratitude for opportunity.

As he expressed, “Being Bangladeshi has been the compass of my journey.” A rather beautiful way of explaining how his identity was the one thing that pushed him in a journey that is filled with uncertainty.

Returning with intent

Studying abroad transformed him personally as much as professionally. Similarly, he said, “It transformed me from a hopeful boy into a purposeful professional.” The experience challenged his understanding of limits, teaching him that constraints are often meant to be tested rather than accepted.

He also pushes back against the idea that studying abroad depends solely on luck. As he explained, “With determination, guidance, and persistence, every obstacle can become a stepping stone.”

Unlike many who view overseas education as a permanent exit, Sadab’s plan has always been to return. He will begin his Bar-at-Law in 2026 and aims to qualify as a Barrister by 2027, after which he intends to serve in Bangladesh.

As he stated clearly, “Every skill, every lesson, every insight I gain here is meant to empower my service to the people of Bangladesh.”

Looking back, what he is most proud of is endurance. Similarly, he said, “That I did not surrender to fear.” Long hours, isolation, and relentless work became part of survival, but also proof of resilience.

In one sentence, he defines the journey best. In his words, “This is the journey that changed my fate, the journey that turned a boy into a man in the making.”

This article is written in partnership with Abroadmates, the all-in-one mentorship platform for study abroad.

To know more about the Türkiye Bursları Scholarship, book a session at https://www.abroadmates.com/a-b-m-sadab-ul-bari