Bullets flew everywhere. People ran, some of them trampled to the ground. Osman left the protest as the shots rang out. Unfortunately, the car he was in ended up in a ditch. As he rushed out of the car, he was shot. Others could not get him to safety because of the continuing gunfire. Osman died on the spot. I was on Twitter when I found out that Osman had been killed. He was my dear friend and mentor who was working towards a medical degree. His loss devastated me. I had no energy to get out of bed, but I knew I had to keep going if not for myself for Osman. I spent most of my childhood moving back and forth between the United States and Sudan. When I was eight years old, I finally moved to the US, but it never truly felt like home to me. My home is in Sudan, where my family lives. The summer before I started high school, I visited Sudan and began volunteering at a hospital where my aunt worked. On my first day, the death count was higher than ever with at least 70 people injured. At the time, protests were ongoing in the country as civilians were protesting for change. I stood there watching as the physicians assisted the wounded in closing lacerations and extracting bullets. I had overheard news outlets informing audiences about the excessive use of force against protesters. However, witnessing firsthand the impact of these crimes against humanity made me feel alienated in my own country. On that day, I vowed to be an agent of change and do what I can to make my country a better place. I started working with the Sudanese community in the United States. In 2019, together with adults from the Sudanese-American Diaspora Association, we protested for a better tomorrow in Sudan. Thousands of people throughout the USA would come together to protest. These protests altered society in Sudan. For thirty years, International Criminal Court fugitive Omar Al Bashir ruined the country economically through his malfeasance. The time I spend involving myself in matters relating to Sudan instilled in me discipline and a deep sense of purpose. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to; I can multi-task and help others while continuing to improve myself. I felt compelled to start my own activism group called ItsNotOkay.Sudan. This group works on educating the Sudanese citizens about sexual assault and how it impacts the victim. I hope to continue on this path and open up safe homes in Sudan for women to have a space free of violence. Due to this activism group, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Al-Jazeera news. After realizing my devotion towards the medical field, I shadowed a nephrologist in Sudan, I realized that I would enjoy going into this career. Nephrologists focus on the diseases that affect the kidneys. My grandfather passed away from kidney failure, and I plan on honoring his memory through this career. It is my dream to open a hospital in Sudan. I want to help as many people as possible and give back to the community that raised me and made me the person I am today. My home country’s high mortality rate is due to the lack of hospitals. I plan on making sure that hospitals are more accessible, as I continue to educate myself so I can better serve my community. I wish to make every place I go to my Sudan. Sudan, a country torn by unspeakable crimes, grows more powerful daily.

“The only time goodbye is painful is when you know you’ll never say hello again.” I read this quote and used it multiple times in essays over the past years, but I never really understood or put much thought into it until now. My grandfather passed away in the summer of 2021, and that's when I started truly understanding this quote. He passed away after they put him on life support. Before he had passed away, he had told me that he wanted me to be the best person I could be and never do anything I know he wouldn’t agree with. I promised him as I kissed the top of his cloth-covered head before they took him to be buried that I would do everything in my power to make him proud. I pray to god every night that I can be the person he wants me to be and the best I can be and make him proud as he watches over me. I don’t ever wish to disappoint him. My grandfather was always my role model. He was a commander in the Sudanese Army and served my home country for 48 years. My grandfather and grandmother were the only parents I had truly known until I was about 8. I never really call my birth parents mom and dad and only call them by their names as I don’t really see them as parents. The only father figure I had was my grandfather. My grandfather was the one who taught me right from wrong and all the values that I carry with me today. He also always told me to help anyone in need no matter the outcome. His words ring in my ears everyday. I always remember everything he said to me. The way he talked and the way he walked. He would always tell me that, if it was written for you, then it would come to you and not to rush into something. I hope I can be just like him and impact so many people as he did. I was in shock at first, barely holding on, but I got through it as I knew my tears wouldn’t bring him back. The only thing I can do is carry on his legacy. I will do all I can to make him proud. It will be my way of saying thank you to him for everything. After realizing my devotion towards the medical field, I considered a plethora of career specializations, such as orthopedics and nephrology. After shadowing a nephrologist in Sudan, I realized that I would enjoy going into this career. Nephrologists focus on the diseases that affect the kidneys. My grandfather passed away from kidney failure, and I plan on honoring his memory through this career. After graduating from medical school and growing my net worth, I plan on using this money to invest in my home country Sudan. It is my dream to open a hospital in Sudan. I want to help as many people as possible and give back to the community that raised me and made me the person I am today. My home country’s high mortality rate is due to the lack of hospitals. I plan on making sure that hospitals are more accessible, as I continue to educate myself so I can better serve my community. I started working with the Sudanese community in the United States. In 2019, together with adults from the Sudanese-American Diaspora Association, we protested for a democratic government. These protests altered society in Sudan. For thirty years, International Criminal Court fugitive Omar Al Bashir ruined the country economically through his malfeasance. We kept protesting until two presidents were removed from power in less than 24 hours. I felt compelled to start my own activism group called ItsNotOkay.Sudan. This group works on educating the Sudanese citizens about sexual assault and how it impacts the victim. I hope to continue on this path and open up safe homes in Sudan for women to have a space free of violence. Due to this activism group, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Al-Jazeera news. The time I spend involving myself in matters relating to Sudan instilled in me discipline and a deep sense of purpose. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to; I can multi-task and help others while continuing to improve myself. I am becoming the person my grandfather would want me to be. Along the way, I am gaining the family I want. I have found my family in the people of my country and will get endless joy from helping them.

Bullets flew everywhere. People ran, some of them trampled to the ground. Osman left the protest as the shots rang out. Unfortunately, the car he was in ended up in a ditch. As he rushed out of the car, he was shot. Others could not get him to safety because of the continuing gunfire. Osman died on the spot. I was on Twitter when I found out that Osman had been killed. He was my dear friend and mentor who was working towards a medical degree. His loss devastated me. I could not eat for days. I had nightmares, and I threw up constantly. I had no energy to get out of bed, but I knew I had to keep going if not for myself for Osman. I spent most of my childhood moving back and forth between the United States and Sudan. When I was eight years old, I finally moved to the US, but it never truly felt like home to me. My home is in Sudan, where my family lives. I started working with the Sudanese community in the United States. In 2019, together with adults from the Sudanese-American Diaspora Association, we protested against the government in Sudan. Thousands of people throughout the USA would come together to protest. These protests altered society in Sudan. For thirty years, International Criminal Court fugitive Omar Al Bashir ruined the country economically through his malfeasance. We kept protesting until two presidents were removed from power in less than 24 hours. The summer before I started high school, I visited Sudan and began volunteering at a hospital where my aunt worked. On my first day, the death count was higher than ever with at least 70 people injured. At the time, protests were ongoing in the country as civilians were protesting for change. I stood there watching as the physicians assisted the wounded in closing lacerations and extracting bullets or glass shards. I had overheard news outlets informing audiences about the excessive use of force against protestors. However, witnessing firsthand the impact of these crimes against humanity made me feel alienated in my own country. On that day, I vowed to be an agent of change and do what I can to make my country a better place. The time I spend involving myself in matters relating to Sudan instilled in me discipline and a deep sense of purpose. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to; I can multi-task and help others while continuing to improve myself. I know that I have to power to change everything. Change is through the people. by the people. I knew that I would be great and be able to help people, but I never knew how to do it. Through all my achievements I learned that all you need is a voice and people to listen. I felt compelled to start my own activism group called ItsNotOkay.Sudan. This group works on educating the Sudanese citizens about sexual assault and how it impacts the victim. I hope to continue on this path and open up safe homes in Sudan for women to have a space free of violence. Due to this activism group, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Al-Jazeera news. Sudan taught me to achieve, you must lose. Sudan, a country torn by inhumane acts that my friend Osman was a victim of, is my greatest achievement.

Bullets flew everywhere. People ran, some of them trampled to the ground. Osman left the protest as the shots rang out. Unfortunately, the car he was in ended up in a ditch. As he rushed out of the car, he was shot. Others could not get him to safety because of the continuing gunfire. Osman died on the spot. I was on Twitter when I found out that Osman had been killed. He was my dear friend and mentor who was working towards a medical degree. His loss devastated me. I could not eat for days. I had nightmares, and I threw up constantly. I had no energy to get out of bed, but I knew I had to keep going if not for myself for Osman. I spent most of my childhood moving back and forth between the United States and Sudan. When I was eight years old, I finally moved to the US, but it never truly felt like home to me. My home is in Sudan, where my family lives. I started working with the Sudanese community in the United States. In 2019, together with adults from the Sudanese-American Diaspora Association, we protested for a change in Sudan. These protests altered society in Sudan. For thirty years, International Criminal Court fugitive Omar Al-Bashir ruined the country economically through his malfeasance. We kept protesting until two presidents were removed from power in less than 24 hours. The summer before I started high school, I visited Sudan and began volunteering at a hospital where my aunt worked. On my first day, the death count was higher than ever with at least 70 people injured. At the time, protests were ongoing in the country as civilians were protesting for change. I stood there watching as the physicians assisted the wounded in closing lacerations and extracting bullets or glass shards. I had overheard news outlets informing audiences about the excessive use of force against protesters. However, witnessing firsthand the impact of these crimes against humanity made me feel alienated in my own country. On that day, I vowed to be an agent of change and do what I can to make my country a better place. The firsthand account of all the violence I saw showed me the empathetic side of myself. The time I spend involving myself in matters relating to Sudan instilled in me discipline and a deep sense of purpose. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to; I can multi-task and help others while continuing to improve myself. I learned that if I could help someone I should do it and not think of any gains out of it. I know that I will go far but now I have what it takes and the knowledge of how to go far. After my realization, I felt compelled to start my own activism group called ItsNotOkay.Sudan. This group works on educating the Sudanese citizens about sexual assault and how it impacts the victim. I hope to continue on this path and open up safe homes in Sudan for women to have a space free of violence. All in all, I hope to continue advocating for others and making a change wherever I go. May every place I come across become my Sudan. My Sudan, a country torn by inhumane acts that my friend Osman was a victim of, continues to grow better every day and I hope to better every place I travel to/

Bullets flew everywhere. People ran, some trampled to the ground. Osman left the protest as the shots rang out. Unfortunately, the car he was in ended up in a ditch. As he rushed out of the car, he was shot. Others could not get him to safety because of the continuing gunfire. Osman died on the spot. I was on Twitter when I found out that Osman had been killed. He was my dear friend and mentor who was working towards a medical degree. His loss devastated me. I could not eat for days. I had no energy to get out of bed, but I knew I had to keep going if not for myself for Osman. I spent most of my childhood moving back and forth between the United States and Sudan. My father was the only one working and was never there. My mother on the other hand tried to get a degree but it was too expensive especially as she lacked speaking English. The language barrier made it harder on my family. My father had sent me to Sudan to be raised with my grandparents after losing his job. When I was eight years old, I finally moved to the US, but it never truly felt like home to me. My home is Sudan, where my family lives. I had an identity crisis but my family tried their best to get me through it. The summer before I started high school, I visited Sudan and began volunteering at a hospital where my aunt worked. On my first day, the death count was higher than ever with at least 70 people injured. At the time, protests were ongoing in the country as civilians were protesting for change. I stood there watching as the physicians assisted the wounded in closing lacerations and extracting bullets or glass shards. I had overheard news outlets informing audiences about the excessive use of force against protestors. However, witnessing firsthand the impact of these crimes against humanity made me feel alienated in my own country. On that day, I vowed to be an agent of change and do what I can to make my country a better place. I started working with the Sudanese community in the United States. In 2019, together with adults from the Sudanese-American Diaspora Association, we protested against the government. These protests altered society in Sudan. For thirty years, International Criminal Court fugitive Omar Al Bashir ruined the country economically through his malfeasance. We kept protesting until two presidents were removed from power in less than 24 hours. The time I spend involving myself in matters relating to Sudan instilled in me discipline and a deep sense of purpose. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to; I can multi-task and help others while continuing to improve myself. I felt compelled to start my own activism group called ItsNotOkay.Sudan. This group works on educating the Sudanese citizens about sexual assault and how it impacts the victim. I hope to continue on this path and open up safe homes in Sudan for women to have a space free of violence. Due to this activism group, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Al-Jazeera news. All in all, I hope to continue advocating for others and work on making sure the college I attend is a safe place for people of all backgrounds. Maybe, the college I go to will become my Sudan. Sudan, a country torn by inhumane acts that my friend Osman was a victim of, is beautiful to me with all its faults.