Personal Story
A little more about me and where I come from.
My hometown
I was born and raised in a small village called Ulyatu in Jaghuri, Ghazni, Afghanistan. It is a remote place and surrounded by huge mountains located in the southern fringes of the Hazarajat region. Life there is very simple and quiet, and people work hard to make things work with what they have.
My father is a farmer, and my mother is a homemaker. Growing up, I learned early what it means to be patient, to keep going, and to value education even when it feels far away.
My school
I studied from grade 2 through grade 12 at a small public school with around 200 students. The conditions were not the best, but the teachers and students still showed up every day. That's what defines the success and perseverance of our people.
At school, we did not have proper classrooms or the best facilities a modern 21th century school could afford. Until around grade 6, we were setting on the floor with a small piece of cloth under us. Life there is that simple and as people we find happiness in that simplicity. Looking back, it was not easy, but it made me appreciate how powerful learning can be, and most importantly, the tiny things life has to offer.
Kabul & Teaching Years
When I was in eighth grade, I learned about U.S. colleges and the U.S. education system. I developed a strong passion for pursuing a path that could eventually lead me to continue my higher education in the United States. This was not the norm in my school. Most students followed the traditional path of taking the university entrance exam (Kankor) and studying at one of the universities in the country.
During high school, I moved to Kabul (the capital) and began learning English with great passion and enthusiasm. I had a clear goal in mind, and that goal pushed me to consistently work harder every day. At the same time, I was a bit scared of the path I was taking toward a future that looked different from what was expected.
In 2019, I started teaching English at local language centers. Teaching helped me develop some of the most important personal and social skills that I am always grateful for. I met some of the most incredible people who supported and encouraged me along the way. My family, especially my parents, played a very important role in supporting my education and giving me the space and opportunity to define my own path for my future.
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Kabul, Between Hardship and Hope
Life is never easy, but for many people in Afghanistan it becomes unusually hard. Despite our country's beauty and unparalleled nature, decades of war have shaped everyday life, and for the Hazara community, that hardship has also included a long history of targeted violence and persecution.
In 2020, I was studying mathematics while also preparing for the TOEFL, still holding on to the dream of college abroad. Kabul was a place of intense learning, ambition, and friendship to so many young people. It was also a place where ordinary routines could suddenly be interrupted by events no one should have to live through.
Unfortunately, for so many years, violence and war hit spaces that are meant for learning, and it took many lives. Many of the educational centers had been the target numerous terrorist attacks. But that was part of the fear we had to live with and to push through what was thrown at us. What I remember most about Kabul is not only fear. I remember the people who kept fighting for a better future. The classmates who shared notes. The teachers who stayed late. And the families who made impossible sacrifices so their kids could study.
This is how we find our way and our place in the world. And unlike most other people in this world, it takes us so much to do so. We keep going not just for ourselves, but also for those who believed in us and never got the chance to finish their own journey. And we keep trying, in our own ways, to make the world safer and more human.
The Fall of Kabul
After the fall of Kabul in August 2021, everything changed very quickly. The institution where I was teaching closed, and the situation became more difficult for everyone around me. Uncertainty filled daily life, and plans that once felt clear suddenly felt fragile.
I was not able to receive my high school diploma and transcript right away from the Ministry of Education. For months, things remained unclear. I continued living in Kabul under the new government until December 2021, trying to stay focused and steady in the middle of so much change.
In December 2021, I was finally able to receive my high school diploma. Shortly after that, I migrated to Islamabad, Pakistan, carrying both uncertainty and hope with me. It was the beginning of another chapter that I did not fully understand yet, but I knew I had to keep moving forward.
An Immigrant
When I moved to Islamabad, Pakistan, everything felt different and overwhelming to some extend. It was my first time living in another country, and I was there completely on my own. The change was not easy. I had to learn how to get through a new culture, a new system, and a new phase of life.
After some time, I met some incredibly kind people and made friends who helped me find my footing and begin working. I started a night shift job at a remote recruitment company based in the United States. It was demanding, but it taught me discipline, responsibility, and independence.
At the same time, I continued pursuing my goal of getting into a college in the United States for my higher education. I spent some really difficult days as an immigrant. But those hardships also pushed me to learn more about myself and to keep moving forward.
The Beginning of a New Life
After taking many international exams, writing countless college essays, requesting letters of recommendation, speaking with admissions counselors, and applying to many colleges, I finally received an offer of admission from Berea College on December 16, 2022, along with a fully funded scholarship. That moment was the result of years of sacrifice, discipline, and persistence.
However, the journey was not over. When I applied for an F-1 visa, I was rejected in my first interview on June 12, 2023. It was a difficult setback, but I refused to give up. I prepared again, stayed patient, and returned for a second interview on August 17, 2023. This time, I was approved.
Arriving in the United States and beginning college was the start of a new chapter in my life. It was more than just starting school. It was the beginning of building a future for myself, for my family, and for my community.
My Academic background
Beyond my personal story, you can can lean more about my academic background, work experience, and projects.
View Academic Background