Darshna Baria’s parents came to America from Pakistan in hopes of creating better opportunities for their children. Now a graduate of The City College of New York (CCNY), Darshna’s hard work and determination has helped their sacrifices pay off.
In addition to earning her degree, Darshna will begin her full-time job at Accenture in the fall as a Consulting Analyst, an accomplishment that feels meaningful to her and her family.
“A lot of immigrant families work really labor intensive, tiring jobs,” Darshna shared. “As a driver, my dad is working for hours on end and it’s a great privilege to see that my parents suffered so much so my brother and I don’t have to.”
While Darshna initially felt imposter syndrome at CCNY after transitioning from high school to college during the pandemic, she credits the experiences she had at CCNY, particularly at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, with helping her adjust and gain confidence.
“My Fellowships and opportunities offered through the Colin Powell school helped me further engage my interests,” Darshna said. “It made school feel like more of a place where I’m learning rather than somewhere that I’m just going to get a degree.”
Through the Colin Powell School, Darshna completed a Climate Policy Fellowship that not only deepened her expertise but also expanded her professional network—connecting her with peers both within economics and across other disciplines. This experience played a pivotal role in opening doors to career opportunities, ultimately leading to an internship that transitioned into a full-time position.
Since Spring 2023, CCNY and Braven have worked in partnership to offer the Braven Leadership Accelerator course which helps empower students with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong economic opportunities.
Together, CCNY and Braven have served over 900 Fellows to date, including Darshna, who took Braven in Spring 2024.
She says she found the course critical to helping her build her career, particularly with carving out time to craft a resume and strong LinkedIn profile and practice for interviews.
“Having the space where you’re able to ask questions and work on your professional development was so important to me because I know that can be challenging for a lot of people,” Darshna said. “It felt like it wasn’t this extra task that I have to do; it felt helpful and helped me fill in the gaps to make my resume stronger.”
Now a college graduate with a full-time job, Darshna carries a deep sense of pride and gratitude, recognizing that her achievements are built on the sacrifices of her parents and the unwavering support of her community. As she embarks on her professional journey, she’s eager to give back and share her success with the “village” that helped raise her. For Darshna, supporting her parents isn’t just a gesture–it’s a heartfelt expression of thanks for the countless sacrifices they made to help her reach this milestone.
“My mom had to leave school from a young age because of religious persecution, so my education was really important to her and my dad,” Darshna shared. “They’re now able to see that their daughter is not struggling to make ends meet. It’s not just about survival anymore; it’s about thriving.”
