From Command Lines to Emergency Lines: How an Immigrant Student Built Production Systems That Matter

When I was twelve years old in Bangladesh, while other kids were playing cricket during recess, I was hunched over a borrowed laptop, teaching myself HTML and CSS from a bootleg copy of a programming book. My parents thought I was wasting time. "Focus on your studies," they'd say. Little did they know I was laying the foundation for a career that would span continents and save institutions thousands of hours of work.

Fast-forward to today: I'm a Computer Science student at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, maintaining a 3.67 GPA while working as a Technical Operations & Support Specialist for the university's Public Safety Department. But here's what makes this story interesting—I didn't just land a job; I rebuilt their entire scheduling system from the ground up.

The Problem That Changed Everything

When I started as a Public Safety Dispatcher in February 2023, I walked into what can only be described as organizational chaos. The campus public safety scheduling was managed through a maze of spreadsheets that would make even the most patient person cry. Supervisors spent hours each week manually coordinating shifts, tracking overtime, and ensuring FERPA compliance—all while trying to prevent understaffing that could compromise campus safety.

The breaking point came during finals week of my first semester. A scheduling error left the overnight shift understaffed, and I watched a supervisor scramble for three hours to find coverage. That night, I went home and started sketching out a solution.

Building More Than Code

What I built wasn't just another scheduling app—it was a full-stack platform that understood the unique challenges of emergency services. Using React and TypeScript for the frontend, Supabase for the backend, and Vercel for CI/CD, I created the P-Services Schedule Application.

But here's what sets this apart from typical student projects: it actually works in production. We're talking 99.9% uptime, serving real emergency responders who can't afford downtime. The system automates role-based shift swaps, reducing administrative workload by a third and closing staffing gaps by 18%. Most importantly, it gives supervisors back six hours every week—time they can now spend on actual emergency response instead of Excel gymnastics.

// Core scheduling algorithm that balances staff preferences 
// with department requirements and compliance needs
const optimizeSchedule = (shifts: Shift[], staff: StaffMember[], constraints: Constraint[]) => {
  // Complex logic that considers FERPA compliance, 
  // overtime regulations, and emergency coverage requirements
  return balancedSchedule;
}

The Immigrant Advantage

Being an immigrant in tech comes with a unique perspective that employers are starting to recognize. We see problems differently because we've navigated different systems. We're comfortable with ambiguity because we've had to adapt to new cultures. And we're motivated differently because we understand that opportunities aren't guaranteed.

When I'm debugging code at 2 AM between dispatch shifts, I'm not just fixing a bug—I'm proving that a kid from Bangladesh can build systems that American institutions depend on. When I'm mentoring new dispatchers on emergency response technology, I'm not just training—I'm bridging the gap between technical innovation and human-centered service.

Community Through Code

My technical skills aren't just confined to my day job. I volunteer as a web developer for the Call for Humanity Foundation, where my work has increased website traffic by 23% and donations by 12%. I raise funds for the Bangladesh Student Association, connecting my heritage with my current community. Through Toastmasters, I'm developing the communication skills that turn technical expertise into leadership capability.

This multi-faceted approach isn't accidental—it's strategic. In today's interconnected world, the most valuable developers aren't just those who can write clean code, but those who understand how technology serves diverse communities and solves real human problems.

What This Means for Your Team

When you hire someone like me, you're not just getting a developer who knows React and TypeScript. You're getting someone who:

  • Builds for production from day one: My systems don't just work in demos—they handle real-world stress in critical environments
  • Understands compliance and security: From FERPA to emergency response protocols, I build with regulations in mind
  • Bridges cultural and technical gaps: I can translate between technical teams and diverse user bases
  • Delivers measurable impact: Every project I touch shows concrete improvements in efficiency, uptime, or user satisfaction

The Future is Multicultural

As we build the next generation of technology, teams need people who understand that code isn't just about logic—it's about people. My journey from teaching myself programming in Bangladesh to building emergency response systems in Minnesota isn't just a personal success story; it's a preview of the global talent pipeline that smart companies are tapping into.

The command lines I learned as a twelve-year-old in Bangladesh are now serving emergency lines in Minnesota. And this is just the beginning.

When you see candidates with non-traditional backgrounds, don't see them as risks to be managed—see them as assets to be leveraged. We bring perspectives that homogeneous teams simply can't replicate, and in an increasingly global marketplace, that perspective is becoming less of a nice-to-have and more of a must-have.

The future belongs to teams that can solve problems for everyone, not just for people who look like the founders. And sometimes, the best way to build that future is to hire the kid who chose command lines over cricket.