Passaic County Technical Vocational Schools is proud to have welcomed 2009 graduate and author, Priyanka Taslim for a special book reading and Q&A session on January 26th. The event, which was open to students of all grade levels, was held in the school's auditorium and provided an opportunity for PCTVS students with interests in creative writing to hear from Priyanka and learn about her book writing journey.

Writer of “The Love Match,” Priyanka Taslim, who graduated from the PCTI School of Education & Human Services, is a Bangladeshi American author and teacher. She is a lifelong Paterson resident and used her Bengali culture and the City of Paterson as the framework for her 1st published novel. The novel is a young adult romantic comedy following a Bangladeshi American heroine while also celebrating the Bangladeshi culture.

During the event, Priyanka read an excerpt from "The Love Match,” engaging with students she answered their questions about the book, the writing process, and her experiences as a published author. She also shared her journey of how she became an author and gave students insight on how to pursue their own passion for writing.

In celebration of her book, administration and staff held a book signing for Priyanka in the FX-Wing library which was decorated for the occasion to represent the tea shop she wrote about in her book. Priyanka spoke with students individually and signed copies of her book for them, adding a message for the student with each signing.

Sharing a message to all students, Priyanka said “Never let where you came from affect where you might go. Always pursue your dreams because we need your voices out there.”

PCTVS was thrilled to have welcomed Priyanka back at her alma mater, it was a great opportunity for the students to hear from a successful graduate and to gain insight into the world of writing and publishing.