Leaving It All Behind for Educational Opportunities and a Chance to Thrive
Five years ago when Sara and her twin sister Veronica arrived in the US, they didn’t speak any English. They only had each other and a parent when they left their home in Congo. Their desire was simple, but similar to many others living in developing nations, to gain access to educational opportunities in the United States.
For many Americans who have had access to public education all their lives, it may be surprising to know that not all countries offer free primary education. While many countries strive to provide free primary education to their citizens, the availability and accessibility of free education can vary significantly across different nations.
In some countries, primary education may be partially subsidized or provided at a low cost but not entirely free. There may be expenses associated with schooling, such as textbooks, uniforms, transportation, or administrative fees, which can pose financial barriers for some families. Additionally, in certain regions affected by conflict, poverty, or other social challenges, the provision of free primary education may be limited or disrupted due to various factors like lack of infrastructure, or civil and political instability.
These were some of the challenges faced by fourteen year old Sara and her family. Primary school education was not free or accessible to everyone, especially those living in rural areas. In addition, not all graduates are guaranteed a job. That is why Sara and her family left everything behind and moved to the United States.
They came first to Texas through the help of an agency. Now that they have settled in Phoenix, Sara has started to build a family of her own. She met Emmanuel, another migrant from Congo, at their church. Her twin sister Veronica met him first and playfully introduced him to her sister by confusing him and not telling him about his twin. After a while, Emmanuel fell in love with Sara, who he “loved for who she is,” he says. After a year, they got married. Now they have a beautiful three week old girl.
“No matter what you’re going through, don’t give up on your dream. Keep going.”
In the future, Sara would like to become a nurse. However, she knows it will take work to get there. She understands that she needs to graduate high school first, then she can attend nursing school. That’s why she enrolled in an online school after arriving in Phoenix.
She found that online school was convenient, especially with her English skills, but she couldn’t keep up with the progress requirements at the first school where she was enrolled. When she was expecting her first child it became an even greater challenge to stay on track. That’s when she was referred to Grad Solutions.
As a dropout recovery program, Grad Solutions gives her the flexibility she needs to continue to make progress while caring for a newborn. She appreciates being able to rewatch content that she doesn’t understand or text a live teacher, when she needs help. She has about eight credits left to go but everyday she makes efforts to get her schoolwork done. “No matter what you're going through, don't give up on your dream. Keep going,” she says. She pushes on every day to take care of a little one while working on her education.
While Sara and her family are settling well in the United States, they continue to overcome obstacles. The rising cost of housing requires them to get well-paying jobs to sustain themselves. This was an unexpected difference from the Congo where they lived on rural land rent-free. They are also in need of technology tools like computers or laptops so they can finish their online education.
Today, Sara and her family are content and grateful to be in the US. Sara has discovered a love for Mexican food and carne asada. This is the reason behind why her husband jokingly calls her “Carne Sara”. Emmanuel plays piano and loves to sing. Together, they enjoy the life they are building. Together, they show that with vision and determination, good things can happen.
Read more student stories at iwantmydiploma.com/blog/category/Student+Stories
World Refugee Day is an annual observance held on June 20th to raise awareness and support for refugees worldwide. It is a day dedicated to recognizing the courage, strength, and resilience of millions of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters.
