Maisha is a UBC student who recently moved to Vancouver from Bangladesh. Through Mountain Mentors this summer, she went on some amazing hikes and even tried climbing for the first time. What was even more meaningful for her were the deep connections she made and the support she found in the cohort.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Salam! I'm Maisha Morshed (@kodombalika), born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh and recently moved to Vancouver to study math at UBC. Currently, I'm building my startup InfrastructHER (@infrastructher) partnered with UBC to redefine architectural designs in Canada, integrating BIPOC+immigrant voices. I'm also a Youth Advisory Council member at The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada and a UBC Sustainability Ambassador working for Environmental Justice.
Beyond academics and advocacy, I’m always experimenting with new experiences—I don’t enjoy living a mundane life. Life feels meaningful only when it’s full of surprises, so I try to process things deeply.
This summer was a perfect example. After finishing my first solo trip to Costa Rica, I was confused what to do for the rest of the summer. And surprise! My email notification said I got into MM as a hiking mentee!
How much hiking experience did you have before you joined Mountain Mentors?
It's funny (and kinda sad) how different my story will be from others. I recently moved to this country from Bangladesh, which is now undergoing a major reformation after a successful student protest (highly recommend folks to learn about this) and it was really unsafe for me to even access public transport regarding lack of women safety. Even if I'd go out, there would be constant calls from my parents about my whereabouts. So you can assume how much of mental clarity I was searching for. I wanted to get rid of those years of trauma.
I've always yearned to be outdoors where I'll finally feel safe and finding MM was like getting a key to that vault. My goals were simple. Explore as many hiking spots as possible, understand how my body adapts with this sudden change and hopefully wrap it up with an overnight hike.
Have you learned anything beyond hiking from folks in Mountain Mentors?
When I first arrived, I was struggling to make meaningful connections. You don’t instantly know who to trust, who would want to plan trips with you, or who would care deeply about why you do what you do. As a Bangladeshi woman navigating Canadian infrastructure, I often felt like my stories or struggles weren’t relevant. At the orientation held, I was so shy that I barely spoke, and I even cancelled my very first hike with my mentor because of sudden social anxiety.
But connecting with folks at Mountain Mentors changed that. I began having real conversations with people from marginalized communities, and they reminded me that my experiences and ideas were valid. There were no fears of getting judged for silly or crazy thoughts, rather constant encouragement for the startup I was trying to build. Especially my mentor Dominique, who would constantly check up on me even after the hikes and would always care about things I'm passionate about: filmmaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, or jamming to Taylor Swift!
Learning about land acknowledgement was new but meaningful to me. As an international student, I completely resonate with the idea of migration. We are constantly in the process of movement in search of our purpose. And while we find the answers for it, the lands we live on give us shelter. We are all part of this nature and it’s really important to show respect towards it.
I've also connected with climbing mentee Nadira, with whom I did my first climbing sesh at Hive, who has been a kind senior to help me navigate opportunities at UBC or navigating resources. She's the one who taught me the concept of carpooling. Moreover, I regained my confidence about asking for help. It doesn't make you look like a dumb, rather it's the smartest thing to do when you're puzzled in life. Help is really out there with the right people waiting for you. All you need is to get out of your comfort zone.
tell me about a time when something unexpected happened when you were out on a hike with your mentor.
Back in Bangladesh, I stopped a lot of things I used to love. Biking, for example. Starting here once again was of course easy, but my body often couldn't take the load. I would easily run out of breath or completely forget to take care of my health. For example, skipping breakfast or drinking water, which led to passing out on the way to Tunnel Bluffs. Luckily, my mentor Dominique was smart enough to cancel that intermediate hike and do Lighthouse Park instead.
That experience reminded me that the outdoors isn’t just about pushing limits—it’s also about listening to your body, pacing yourself, and trusting your community to look out for you. I’m learning that resilience isn’t always about “toughing it out”; sometimes, it’s about adjusting, resting, and finding new ways forward.
tell me about a time when you shared your culture with your mentor and they shared theirs with you.
I’m a Bangladeshi Muslim, and I was brought up to connect with people from all kinds of identities. Our physical appearances may differ, but what truly connects us are the values and moral compass we carry inside. My mentor is an East Asian brought up by white parents, and I think initially she feared I wouldn’t be comfortable hanging out with her. It turned out to be the total opposite. In fact, I’ve probably been the loudest and most talkative I’ve been since moving to Canada.
I loved the fact how willing she was to know more about my background. I was also fascinated how she unveiled decolonization with her lived experiences as an English teacher and woman of color. We talked about faith, religion, relationships, colonization…I know we talk way too much!
On our Deep Cove hike, I even brought Bangladeshi potato crackers for her to try, and it sparked such a fun exchange of culture and stories.
Did you connect with people in your cohort beyond your mentor?
As I was a new hiker, I didn’t have the basic gear. On our way back from orientation, I connected with Sampoorna (climbing mentor). She was kind enough to give me her extra hiking shoes, which I’ve been wearing for all the hikes throughout the season.
I connected with Nadira and Jo, with whom I did my first climbing session. Through Dominique, I got to know about another hiking pair, Beth and Tatenda, and we did a hike at Bowen Lookout. It’s beautiful to know how one hike can introduce you to so many different stories from different people.
What do you think the lasting impact on you will be after this season is over?
I view my life as an act of letting go. I know moments pass and people too. These beautiful moments I’ve created throughout the season will stay with me forever, even if I move on. I already know my mentor is starting her new life in Aotearoa, but one thing is evident that she has become a friend – a term I was too scared to use randomly. I know once in a while, I’ll check up on her updates and be super proud of what she’s been up to. She came to my life when I felt stuck, helped me open up, be honest with my own needs, and learn to reach out for any help. That is a gift I’ll carry with me always.
Is there anything else you'd like folks to know about Mountain Mentors?
Know that Mountain Mentors is more than just an outdoor program. It’s a community where people from diverse backgrounds come together to support one another, share experiences, and grow—both on the trails and in life. It teaches you resilience, empathy, and the importance of asking for help. It’s a space where your voice matters, your stories are valued, and even small gestures—like sharing a snack or a laugh on the trail—can create lasting connections. And if my story resonated with you, you can always reach out to me for a chat!