Syrian; seeking Undergraduate degree in Optical and optemtry and is enrolled at American University of Science and Technology.
My name is Nadwa, a 27 year old Syrian girl from, Syria.. In 2011, I had to leave Syria to Lebanon and was not even able to sit for my high school exam.
I have a large family. We are seven girls and 3 boys. I have two older sisters four younger. My father was the bread winner. He passed away leaving me unable to cope emotionally and financially.
I insisted that all my younger siblings, both males and females continue their education.
I kept trying to finish my high school and finally made it after 7 long difficult years.
I began working as an optician assistant, and loved this field.I excelled. They say love what you do and you will not have to work for a single day in your life.
I did. I decided to major in optometry.
I became the role model for my close friends and family. I was a living example of what it takes to succeed and reach my goals. I am doing my best to help them believe that they, too, can achieve their goals if they persevere.
My aim in life is to put a smile on tired faces, to be a lens that reflects hope in their eyes. I simply want to be a good influence on others by completing my university and always aim high.
Why Would Donors Fund You?
I became an independent woman since the day I arrived in Lebanon, working hard on my own to pursue my education. I am ambitious and very hard working. Despite a very challenging refugee status in Lebanon and the social and financial restrictions, I have been able to continue my education . I got my high school diploma and started college. . Now, my major obstacle is money. I beleive education is a human right and money shouldn't stand in my way. I have come through a lot and will not stop today. Because of my motivation, perseverance and willingness to never give up, I beleive that donors should fund me.
How Do You Plan to Payback?
I beleive education is necessary to develop leadership skills and it is everyone's responsibility to give back to his or her community. By completing my education, I will be able to develop my critical thinking and leadership skills. Through my work and because of my challenging experiencein life, I am always ready to engage in community work, especially with refugee youth who are going through the same thing that I am going through. Therefore, every time I have the chance to help, support, volunteer with community work that helps refugee youth, I will be the first one to be there.
Volunteer Work/Social Capital
In 2019, I volunteered with PADILEIA as an outreach worker for the next cohort. I met with several organisations to recruit new students and I was responsible of helping new applicants with their application forms. In 2019, i also joined the Kayany foundation as a volunteer in their food and clothes donation campaign for syrian refugees in camps.
What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements
In 2018, I joined the Partnership for Digital learning and Increased Access (PADILEIA), a college readiness program under the administration of the American University of Beirut and King's College London. Over a period of 9 month, I had the opportunity to enhance my academic and life skills that I need to enter university. We took courses such as English, English Conversational, Science, Digital Skills, Humanities and Math. This program helped me to stay motivated and increased my language and critical thinking that I need to be able to succeed in university. After I completed the program, I was able to sit for the official high school exams in Lebanon and obtain my high school degree.
Amir Mufid Abed Rabo
God Bless YOU