From Lecturer to Learner

Navigating Role Reversal in a U.S. Graduate Classroom

Abstract

This case explores my transition from a lecturer in Mass Communication in Bangladesh to a graduate student in Educational Leadership and Societal Change. The shift from teaching to learning exposed deep cultural and pedagogical contrasts, from authority-centered classrooms to dialogue-based learning. As the only Bangladeshi student on campus, I faced academic and emotional challenges that reshaped my understanding of leadership. Serving in student leadership helped me transform adaptation into active, empathetic leadership.