Bold Optimist Scholarship

I am very proud of the fact that I went from an illiterate nomad herding goats and sheep in the semi-desert oasis of Somaliland, East Africa, to a US boarding school scholar at La Lumiere school in Indiana. At the beginning of the fall 2012, my dad decided to take me to the town to stay with my aunt who lived in the town. I could not read or write in any language. I could only speak Somali. I started from scratch learning the English, Somali and the Arabic alphabet. I also started learning Math from people in the mosques and other community centers. I was bold and determined to seize knowledge by all means necessary. I learned to code. I love coding with Python. It was a challenge to learn under poor conditions and sometimes lack of electricity. But I was always optimistic about the future. When I look back on those tough days I experienced, it reminds me of my level of versatility and my ability to persevere with difficult phases of life. I would like to study computer science and electrical engineering. I love technology and I aspire to contribute to the field. Currently, I am conducting a research on Artificial Intelligence which is a topic that greatly intrigues me. My prime goal is to bring progressive technology and clean energy to my country. My country receives direct sunlight all year long, and it is my intent to harness that free energy to supply the electricity demand in my country, and innovate with that energy. Lastly, this scholarship will open the doors for me to enter the platform to acquire the skills and expertise needed to tackle my dreams. It will allow me to attend a college in the United States.

Ironically, much of my optimism has occurred in dire moments when people were struggling. As social worker, my capacity of rapport building played a vital role when helping clients grapple with complex psychosocial issues. I counseled patients enduring mental health crises, helped clients attain emergency food and shelter, and aided those fleeing domestic violence. Though these interactions were frequently clunky and uncomfortable, I always recognized the mutual good-will between myself and those I served. These moments made me optimistic that despite current circumstances, there are good people in this world that want to help others. No ulterior motives. Just help for help’s sake. Teaching has been another unexpected source of my optimism. As a brain injury group facilitator, I educated clients about brain injury severity, common symptoms, and coping strategies to address cognitive issues. My brain-injured clients-who previously struggled to cope with their new health issue-found solace and community in the group. Further, I mentored medical staff about systemic racism in medicine, its impact on minority groups, and troubleshot healthier ways to approach diverse populations. Through dissemination of information, I helped others better themselves or the lives of others. Information, if used correctly, can change lives of those who are struggling. As a future educator and researcher, this gives me hope. In conclusion, I have more optimism than I ever thought I would. Through the traumas, struggles, and emergencies I have witnessed, there has also been growth, kindness, and good-will towards those who suffer. I keep these thoughts close on my darkness days, and will continue to do so in my mission to aid those who struggle.