Recently, the North South University Arts & Photography Club invited MD Shafiuzzaman Ador to conduct a session on basic photography. While he's taken many workshops before, this one felt special—for both him and me. It was his first-ever session at NSU, and also my first time attending a session led by him.

Ador and I go way back—over five years now. We first met during a business math course. Ironically, neither of us lasted long in that class. We both dropped out after struggling to make sense of anything, and then the pandemic hit. A few months later, we randomly ran into each other at a restaurant. That’s when he told me he was planning to sell his camera and asked if I knew anyone interested. I managed to gather some money and bought it myself. That moment was a turning point.

From that day on, we started working together. Ador focused on cinematography, and I found my path in photography. I also began assisting him in his video projects. He used to run a fun YouTube channel called AdorBador, where I even acted in a few videos. It’s crazy to think how far we’ve both come since then.

Watching him lead a session at NSU was a proud moment. The crowd loved it, the energy was great, and it reminded me how friendships can unexpectedly shape careers.

So recently, Beatmosphere made an appearance on the TV talk show "What A Show", hosted by none other than Rafsan Shabab and it featured some pretty big names like Pritom Hasan and Xefer.

From what I’ve heard, the vibe was energetic, the banter was real, and the studio was lit. But here’s the twist: I wasn’t there. Yeah. As Beatmosphere’s go-to photographer, you’d think I’d be in the middle of all the behind-the-scenes madness. But this time? I was wrapped in a blanket, dozing off on a gloomy day, nowhere near the camera lens or studio lights.

Well, this one was a TV production with limited audience capacity, so not much scope for extras — especially someone like me whose main gig is behind-the-scenes stills. Plus, when there’s no crowd to shoot and no real movement happening that needs to be captured visually, there's really not much for a photographer to contribute. So I did what any sensible person would do on a gray day off: stayed home and caught up on sleep.

Also worth noting , Zardo one of our regulars wasn’t part of the show either. He’s currently tied up with studies in Rajshahi, and honestly, we all respect that. The distance and academic load make it hard for him to be present at everything, and that's totally justified. Priorities, right?

Even though I wasn’t physically there, it still felt good seeing Beatmosphere get that platform and be part of something bigger. Shows like “What A Show” give underground or emerging acts a space to just be — to talk, to perform, and to connect with new audiences. And seeing our people up there, even from my screen at home, gave me a quiet little sense of pride.

Sometimes, missing out isn’t all bad. Some days are for the grind, others are for the blanket. That day? Definitely the latter. Looking forward to the next gig I can actually shoot — and yeah, I’ll be ready with my camera.

So, NSU just pulled off something pretty cool — they hosted a TEDx event under the banner TEDxNorthSouthUniversity, and let me tell you, it was packed with big names, powerful stories, and some much-needed food for thought.

Although I couldn’t catch the whole event (thanks to classes — and let's be honest, it wasn’t a paid gig, so skipping lectures didn’t feel justifiable), I still managed to experience parts of it. And even that was enough to make an impression. Let’s talk about the lineup — it was star-studded, to say the least. People like Maria Mumu, Jon Kabir, Salman Muqtadir, Rafsan Shabab, Munzarin Shaheed, Husain Elius, Bobby Hajjaj, Shafin Ahmed and many others took the stage to share their stories, lessons, and real-life reflections.

What I really love about covering events like these is that they give you second-hand wisdom — insights from lives you haven’t lived, challenges you haven’t faced, and lessons you didn’t have to pay the price to learn. It’s the kind of education that books don’t give and a single life can’t provide.

Now, if I had to pick a highlight — Jon Kabir, hands down. That man owned the stage. No filters, no formalities. He broke away from the usual polished TED talk vibe and just talked like he was hanging out with the crowd. He addressed topics that are usually off-limits at events like these, and the students loved it. It felt raw, honest, and super relatable.

Then there was Salman Muqtadir, who gave us a throwback to his own NSU days. He shared the kind of stuff that really hits home for students — like the reality check about life beyond degrees and textbooks. It was one of those “Okay, maybe I needed to hear that” moments.

Rafsan Shabab, coming from a cadet college background, added a more structured flavor to the conversation. He spoke about the do’s and don’ts of daily life and how discipline (and breaking it occasionally) taught him a lot. He also dove into how to connect with people across different professions and age groups — a topic that’s so underrated but incredibly important.

Maria Mumu shared her mental health journey and how it led her to win the Diana Award through her work with Moshal. That part was deeply inspiring — especially in a society where mental health is still brushed under the rug.

And Shafin Ahmed — yes, the legend from Miles — brought a dose of artistic spirit. He talked about passion, reality, and what it really takes to follow the creative path in a world that often doesn’t understand it. If you’re into music or any kind of art, his words probably struck a chord with you.

The event wrapped up with an acoustic band performance, which was the perfect wind-down after all the intense but fulfilling sessions. To be honest, while the content and speakers were top-tier, I felt the timing and management could’ve been a bit tighter. A mid-day weekday event isn’t the most student-friendly plan, especially if you’re juggling classes and assignments. That part was a bit of a letdown. But still — no regrets being there, even as a partial audience.

So yeah, TEDxNorthSouthUniversity might’ve been a short visit for me, but the experience and stories I caught stayed. Sometimes, it’s not about attending every session — it’s about catching that one talk that makes you look at life a little differently.