my family and I moved to America from the country of Sudan when I was 6 years
the country of Sudan when I was 6 years
the country of Sudan when I was 6 years of age because I was so much younger
of age because I was so much younger
of age because I was so much younger than my two older sisters I picked up on
than my two older sisters I picked up on
than my two older sisters I picked up on the customs through the new language and
the customs through the new language and
the customs through the new language and the changes here pretty quickly right
the changes here pretty quickly right
the changes here pretty quickly right around the time I was in middle school
around the time I was in middle school
around the time I was in middle school and began fitting into a social circle
and began fitting into a social circle
and began fitting into a social circle I found myself slowly pulling away from
I found myself slowly pulling away from
I found myself slowly pulling away from my culture and my home country and it
my culture and my home country and it
my culture and my home country and it wasn’t because I was forgetting it or
wasn’t because I was forgetting it or
wasn’t because I was forgetting it or because I was in this new land but
because I was in this new land but
because I was in this new land but because I was scared and ashamed and
because I was scared and ashamed and
because I was scared and ashamed and embarrassed
embarrassed
embarrassed I remember after 9/11 happened the world
I remember after 9/11 happened the world
I remember after 9/11 happened the world around me had this newfound hatred and
around me had this newfound hatred and
around me had this newfound hatred and fear towards the Arab world it was
fear towards the Arab world it was
fear towards the Arab world it was terrifying and confusing and I
terrifying and confusing and I
terrifying and confusing and I automatically began hiding away all
automatically began hiding away all
automatically began hiding away all aspects of myself that even remotely
aspects of myself that even remotely
aspects of myself that even remotely resembled being from an Arab country I
resembled being from an Arab country I
resembled being from an Arab country I never spoke Arabic around my friends
never spoke Arabic around my friends
never spoke Arabic around my friends never mentioned my religion never even
never mentioned my religion never even
never mentioned my religion never even shared stories of my home country I just
shared stories of my home country I just
shared stories of my home country I just hid it all the way in public and I love
hid it all the way in public and I love
hid it all the way in public and I love the feeling of acceptance deep down
the feeling of acceptance deep down
the feeling of acceptance deep down however I was scared and I was hurting
however I was scared and I was hurting
however I was scared and I was hurting of course I grew up and that scared
of course I grew up and that scared
of course I grew up and that scared ashamed little middle school girl
ashamed little middle school girl
ashamed little middle school girl started to fade away I always wondered
started to fade away I always wondered
started to fade away I always wondered however if there were others my age at
however if there were others my age at
however if there were others my age at the time who felt the same way and would
the time who felt the same way and would
the time who felt the same way and would it have made a difference to see and be
it have made a difference to see and be
it have made a difference to see and be around those people what I have been
around those people what I have been
around those people what I have been able to embrace and be comfortable with
able to embrace and be comfortable with
able to embrace and be comfortable with myself a lot sooner fast forwarding to a
myself a lot sooner fast forwarding to a
myself a lot sooner fast forwarding to a year ago and I’m a graduate student and
year ago and I’m a graduate student and
year ago and I’m a graduate student and through a mentor of mine I hear about
through a mentor of mine I hear about
through a mentor of mine I hear about this program being funded by the YMCA a
this program being funded by the YMCA a
this program being funded by the YMCA a program aimed at helping incoming
program aimed at helping incoming
program aimed at helping incoming citizens refugees and immigrants in the
citizens refugees and immigrants in the
citizens refugees and immigrants in the in Reiko area I was stunned my mind
in Reiko area I was stunned my mind
in Reiko area I was stunned my mind immediately took me back to my teenage
immediately took me back to my teenage
immediately took me back to my teenage years and a deep connection was made
years and a deep connection was made
years and a deep connection was made after that it didn’t really take much
after that it didn’t really take much
after that it didn’t really take much for me to reach out to the program
for me to reach out to the program
for me to reach out to the program coordinator here back and immediately
coordinator here back and immediately
coordinator here back and immediately get involved many people here have
get involved many people here have
get involved many people here have probably had a moment or an event or
probably had a moment or an event or
probably had a moment or an event or something in they like in their life
something in they like in their life
something in they like in their life that they proclaim to be life-changing
that they proclaim to be life-changing
that they proclaim to be life-changing well the star program has been that for
well the star program has been that for
well the star program has been that for me life-changing strengthening teens
me life-changing strengthening teens
me life-changing strengthening teens academically and recreationally better
academically and recreationally better
academically and recreationally better known as star is an after-school program
known as star is an after-school program
known as star is an after-school program offering tutoring English language
offering tutoring English language
offering tutoring English language assistance and recreational activities
assistance and recreational activities
assistance and recreational activities to immigrants and refugees students
to immigrants and refugees students
to immigrants and refugees students I was introduced to new students who
I was introduced to new students who
I was introduced to new students who reminded me of my middle school self
reminded me of my middle school self
reminded me of my middle school self unlike myself they walked the world with
unlike myself they walked the world with
unlike myself they walked the world with more confidence what they had however
more confidence what they had however
more confidence what they had however was fear fear of opening up fear of
was fear fear of opening up fear of
was fear fear of opening up fear of being vulnerable to new people and fear
being vulnerable to new people and fear
being vulnerable to new people and fear of not belonging I walked into I remove
of not belonging I walked into I remove
of not belonging I walked into I remove a room of about 35 kids each separated
a room of about 35 kids each separated
a room of about 35 kids each separated by their backgrounds they spoke only in
by their backgrounds they spoke only in
by their backgrounds they spoke only in their native language and did it mingle
their native language and did it mingle
their native language and did it mingle with other groups there was a clear
with other groups there was a clear
with other groups there was a clear divide and I knew that I had a
divide and I knew that I had a
divide and I knew that I had a responsibility to help change that I
responsibility to help change that I
responsibility to help change that I owed these kids and I owed my middle
owed these kids and I owed my middle
owed these kids and I owed my middle school self we introduced them to
school self we introduced them to
school self we introduced them to talents they never knew they had careers
talents they never knew they had careers
talents they never knew they had careers they never knew they could have people
they never knew they could have people
they never knew they could have people they never knew they would meet in an
they never knew they would meet in an
they never knew they would meet in an amazing group of volunteers who became
amazing group of volunteers who became
amazing group of volunteers who became their new mentors and friends and life
their new mentors and friends and life
their new mentors and friends and life rather than shy away from where they
rather than shy away from where they
rather than shy away from where they came from like I did these kids grew
came from like I did these kids grew
came from like I did these kids grew bonds and connections with others in
bonds and connections with others in
bonds and connections with others in similar situations these kids came from
similar situations these kids came from
similar situations these kids came from Colombia where they went in as violence
Colombia where they went in as violence
Colombia where they went in as violence and drug uses daily Iraq where their
and drug uses daily Iraq where their
and drug uses daily Iraq where their family members feared for their lives
family members feared for their lives
family members feared for their lives Egypt in the midst of uprisings Sudan
Egypt in the midst of uprisings Sudan
Egypt in the midst of uprisings Sudan surrounded by famine and homelessness
surrounded by famine and homelessness
surrounded by famine and homelessness Somalia in the heart of war and so many
Somalia in the heart of war and so many
Somalia in the heart of war and so many other tragedy stricken countries so
other tragedy stricken countries so
other tragedy stricken countries so having them meet with a neurologist and
having them meet with a neurologist and
having them meet with a neurologist and see the sparkle in their eyes as they
see the sparkle in their eyes as they
see the sparkle in their eyes as they asked questions was mesmerizing to
asked questions was mesmerizing to
asked questions was mesmerizing to having the meet and greet with the VCU
having the meet and greet with the VCU
having the meet and greet with the VCU soccer coach and staff and hear the awe
soccer coach and staff and hear the awe
soccer coach and staff and hear the awe and amazement in their voice was
and amazement in their voice was
and amazement in their voice was breathtaking to introducing them the new
breathtaking to introducing them the new
breathtaking to introducing them the new to new forms of art and music and
to new forms of art and music and
to new forms of art and music and watching them passionately throw
watching them passionately throw
watching them passionately throw themselves into it was hypnotic to see
themselves into it was hypnotic to see
themselves into it was hypnotic to see help and introducing them to what they
help and introducing them to what they
help and introducing them to what they never thought possible in their own
never thought possible in their own
never thought possible in their own countries was life-changing
countries was life-changing
countries was life-changing the change that occurred in these kids
the change that occurred in these kids
the change that occurred in these kids within a matter of months was
within a matter of months was
within a matter of months was earth-shattering the one student who
earth-shattering the one student who
earth-shattering the one student who only spoke in French with his favorite
only spoke in French with his favorite
only spoke in French with his favorite volunteer began to open up and speak in
volunteer began to open up and speak in
volunteer began to open up and speak in English and to my surprise he was not
English and to my surprise he was not
English and to my surprise he was not only capable but amazing at it the
only capable but amazing at it the
only capable but amazing at it the lonely girl from day one who wore hijab
lonely girl from day one who wore hijab
lonely girl from day one who wore hijab and was swaddled in her art book became
and was swaddled in her art book became
and was swaddled in her art book became a social butterfly the 13 year old boy
a social butterfly the 13 year old boy
a social butterfly the 13 year old boy who acted tough and shrugged away any
who acted tough and shrugged away any
who acted tough and shrugged away any emotions or sense of empathy slowly
emotions or sense of empathy slowly
emotions or sense of empathy slowly broke down his walls and shared of his
broke down his walls and shared of his
broke down his walls and shared of his difficult heartbreaking home situation
difficult heartbreaking home situation
difficult heartbreaking home situation and
and
and with each change that occurred in these
with each change that occurred in these
with each change that occurred in these children I realized that this is what I
children I realized that this is what I
children I realized that this is what I needed at their age this is where I
needed at their age this is where I
needed at their age this is where I would have felt a sense of belonging and
would have felt a sense of belonging and
would have felt a sense of belonging and this is where I could have learned to
this is where I could have learned to
this is where I could have learned to love and embrace myself in the state of
love and embrace myself in the state of
love and embrace myself in the state of Virginia alone immigrants and refugees
Virginia alone immigrants and refugees
Virginia alone immigrants and refugees make up 12% of the entire population one
make up 12% of the entire population one
make up 12% of the entire population one in six workers is an immigrant they hold
in six workers is an immigrant they hold
in six workers is an immigrant they hold the highest population working in STEM
the highest population working in STEM
the highest population working in STEM fields and nearly 50% of all bridging
fields and nearly 50% of all bridging
fields and nearly 50% of all bridging Virginia business owners are immigrants
Virginia business owners are immigrants
Virginia business owners are immigrants or refugees immigrants today are
or refugees immigrants today are
or refugees immigrants today are planting down roots across America and
planting down roots across America and
planting down roots across America and helping to maintain our foundation
helping to maintain our foundation
helping to maintain our foundation compared to native-born Americans they
compared to native-born Americans they
compared to native-born Americans they are more likely to attend college earn
are more likely to attend college earn
are more likely to attend college earn high-paying jobs and become future
high-paying jobs and become future
high-paying jobs and become future homeowners that they hold two-thirds of
homeowners that they hold two-thirds of
homeowners that they hold two-thirds of major highly recognizable careers such
major highly recognizable careers such
major highly recognizable careers such as teachers lawyers doctors nurses and
as teachers lawyers doctors nurses and
as teachers lawyers doctors nurses and scientists now imagine if we had more
scientists now imagine if we had more
scientists now imagine if we had more programs and practices that stimulated
programs and practices that stimulated
programs and practices that stimulated the success at a young age rather than
the success at a young age rather than
the success at a young age rather than making them feel unwanted and unsafe
making them feel unwanted and unsafe
making them feel unwanted and unsafe rather than only telling them that this
rather than only telling them that this
rather than only telling them that this isn’t their country and they don’t
isn’t their country and they don’t
isn’t their country and they don’t belong think of what more can emerge
belong think of what more can emerge
belong think of what more can emerge from people who are given stability and
from people who are given stability and
from people who are given stability and safety and encouragement at a young age
safety and encouragement at a young age
safety and encouragement at a young age in a current state where the world is
in a current state where the world is
in a current state where the world is telling us that immigrants and refugees
telling us that immigrants and refugees
telling us that immigrants and refugees and foreigners don’t matter and programs
and foreigners don’t matter and programs
and foreigners don’t matter and programs such as this don’t matter I’m standing
such as this don’t matter I’m standing
such as this don’t matter I’m standing here today and proclaiming that as a lie
here today and proclaiming that as a lie
here today and proclaiming that as a lie if you have the opportunity to seek out
if you have the opportunity to seek out
if you have the opportunity to seek out and help others such as my middle school
and help others such as my middle school
and help others such as my middle school self and others like these kids do so I
self and others like these kids do so I
self and others like these kids do so I challenge you to not let the opinions of
challenge you to not let the opinions of
challenge you to not let the opinions of what the world has changed how you make
what the world has changed how you make
what the world has changed how you make an impact and leave a footprint you
an impact and leave a footprint you
an impact and leave a footprint you single-handedly have the power to help
single-handedly have the power to help
single-handedly have the power to help change the lives of these younger
change the lives of these younger
change the lives of these younger generations myself and all these other
generations myself and all these other
generations myself and all these other kids come into a new world where we know
kids come into a new world where we know
kids come into a new world where we know nothing and no one rather than hide away
nothing and no one rather than hide away
nothing and no one rather than hide away like I did they should have the support
like I did they should have the support
like I did they should have the support of those around them to help with this
of those around them to help with this
of those around them to help with this transition I know I was given a gift by
transition I know I was given a gift by
transition I know I was given a gift by recognizing myself in these younger kids
recognizing myself in these younger kids
recognizing myself in these younger kids and seeing firsthand the amazing changes
and seeing firsthand the amazing changes
and seeing firsthand the amazing changes that occur when they are given the tools
that occur when they are given the tools
that occur when they are given the tools to go out into the world with confidence
to go out into the world with confidence
to go out into the world with confidence the immigrant and refugee crisis is
the immigrant and refugee crisis is
the immigrant and refugee crisis is happening daily in Plainview take a
happening daily in Plainview take a
happening daily in Plainview take a stand it starts with these younger
stand it starts with these younger
stand it starts with these younger generations of kids who
generations of kids who
generations of kids who have the power to help mold to becoming
have the power to help mold to becoming
have the power to help mold to becoming these doctors and engineers and lawyers
these doctors and engineers and lawyers
these doctors and engineers and lawyers I know the world is constantly
I know the world is constantly
I know the world is constantly advocating for the power of youth
advocating for the power of youth
advocating for the power of youth programs and the power of volunteering
programs and the power of volunteering
programs and the power of volunteering and it may seem overwhelming until you
and it may seem overwhelming until you
and it may seem overwhelming until you have the opportunity to help change a
have the opportunity to help change a
have the opportunity to help change a life because there in America does not
life because there in America does not
life because there in America does not mean they feel American and because they
mean they feel American and because they
mean they feel American and because they are in a loop in a new location does not
are in a loop in a new location does not
are in a loop in a new location does not mean they feel at home since the
mean they feel at home since the
mean they feel at home since the beginning of my work with the star
beginning of my work with the star
beginning of my work with the star program I constantly reflect back on how
program I constantly reflect back on how
program I constantly reflect back on how much I have changed and learned to love
much I have changed and learned to love
much I have changed and learned to love and embrace myself my past my culture my
and embrace myself my past my culture my
and embrace myself my past my culture my religion my identity and I never thought
religion my identity and I never thought
religion my identity and I never thought I would be where I am today that same
I would be where I am today that same
I would be where I am today that same ashamed and scared little middle school
ashamed and scared little middle school
ashamed and scared little middle school girl stands before you now I have chosen
girl stands before you now I have chosen
girl stands before you now I have chosen to go against the perceptions of what
to go against the perceptions of what
to go against the perceptions of what the world has on immigrants and refugees
the world has on immigrants and refugees
the world has on immigrants and refugees and set down my own roots and you all
and set down my own roots and you all
and set down my own roots and you all have the opportunity to grant all these
have the opportunity to grant all these
have the opportunity to grant all these other kids such as myself that same
other kids such as myself that same
other kids such as myself that same chance thank you
”
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