Title: I Was a Refugee. Now I Want to Help Others Like Me. The day the Taliban took over Afghanistan, I remember feeling like the world had stopped. I was sitting with my family, watching the news, trying to understand what was happening. Everything felt scary and uncertain. Within days, girls were no longer allowed to go to school. I couldn’t walk outside without fear. My parents were worried all the time. We had no choice but to leave. We left our home, our school, our friends, and everything we knew. We became refugees. I didn’t even fully understand what that meant at the time. I just knew that we had to run to stay alive. Now, I understand what being a refugee truly means. It means starting over with nothing. It means being scared, confused, and sometimes feeling invisible. It means missing your country while also trying to survive in a new one. It’s not something anyone chooses. It’s something people do because they have to. There are millions of people like me in the world. Refugees come from many countries Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Ukraine, and many more. Some are escaping war, others are running from danger, and some are leaving because of natural disasters or poverty. According to the United Nations, over 100 million people around the world were displaced in 2023. That’s more than ever before. When people think about refugees, they often imagine camps, tents, or sad photos on the news. But refugees are real people. They are mothers, fathers, children, students, workers, and dreamers. They have talents, goals, and big hearts. What they need is a chance a chance to live safely, to go to school, to work, and to rebuild their lives. Being a refugee has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced. But it also taught me so much. It taught me how strong people can be, even when everything is falling apart. I saw this strength in my parents, who worked so hard to keep us safe and give us a new life in the U.S. I saw it in my siblings, who learned a new language and pushed themselves to catch up in school. And I found that strength in myself when I chose not to give up, even when it felt like everything was against me. One of the biggest problems refugees face is being treated like they don’t belong. Many struggle to find a home, a job, or even food. Refugee children often miss years of school. Some never get the chance to go at all. Healthcare is hard to access, and in some places, refugees aren’t even allowed to work. This isn’t fair. Refugees are not the cause of problems they are the result of problems that others have created, like war, violence, and inequality. But there are solutions. Governments have the power to welcome refugees and help them settle in safely. They can offer legal protection, education, housing, and healthcare. They can also work to fix the problems that cause people to flee in the first place. When countries open their doors, they’re not just helping people they’re gaining hardworking, talented, and grateful citizens. Organizations like the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) do important work. They give refugees food, shelter, legal help, and education. They help people in camps and also those trying to rebuild their lives in new countries. But they need more support, and more people willing to help. Regular people can make a big difference too. When I came to the U.S., I was lucky to meet people who welcomed me. Some helped me learn English. Others helped me with school or simply made me feel like I belonged. At my high school, I joined a club that supports immigrant and refugee students. We held donation drives, helped new students adjust, and shared our stories. That experience showed me the power of community and the importance of standing up for each other. Now, I speak up about being a refugee. It’s not always easy. Sometimes I feel scared that people won’t understand or will judge me. But I share my story because I want to change how people see refugees. We are not weak. We are not broken. We are strong, smart, and full of hope. We just need support. My experience as a refugee shaped my goals for the future. I want to become a pediatrician a doctor for children. I especially want to help kids from immigrant or refugee families. I know what it’s like to feel afraid to ask for help, to not speak the language, and to feel like you don’t belong. I want to be the kind of doctor who understands, who listens, and who makes people feel safe. I want every child I help to know that someone believes in them. My values kindness, fairness, and hard work come from my past. They come from everything I’ve been through and everything I’ve seen my family do to survive. I believe that everyone deserves a chance to live safely, to learn, and to grow. I believe that we should care for one another, no matter where someone comes from. And I believe that helping others is one of the most powerful things we can do. Being a refugee once made me feel powerless. But now, it makes me feel powerful. I survived. I learned. I grew. And now I want to use my life to help others do the same. The refugee crisis is a big issue in the world today. But it’s also a very personal one to me. I know how hard it is to leave everything behind. I know how it feels to miss your home and wonder if you’ll ever go back. I also know how strong refugees are. We are not just people in need we are people with dreams, with courage, and with the will to keep going, no matter what. If more people could see refugees the way I see them as humans with hearts full of hope maybe the world would change. I want to be a part of that change. I want to help build a future where no child is forced to give up school, where no family has to sleep in fear, and where every refugee is seen, supported, and celebrated. That is my dream. That is my purpose. And I will work every day to make it real.

If selected as the recipient of the KC MedBridge Scholarship, I would utilize the award to strategically invest in my academic and professional development as an aspiring physician. With a deep-seated commitment to healthcare and community service, I intend to use the funds to enhance my access to hands-on learning experiences and rigorous academic preparation that will equip me for the challenges of medical school and beyond. Specifically, the scholarship would help finance transportation to and from clinical shadowing placements and medical internship sites, as well as cover enrollment fees for pre-college programs focused on the biomedical sciences. Additionally, I plan to allocate a portion of the award toward purchasing essential academic resources, including standardized test preparation materials and advanced science textbooks, which will strengthen my foundation in biology, chemistry, and human anatomy. As a first-generation student and refugee from Afghanistan, I face unique socioeconomic challenges that make external financial support not only valuable, but vital. This scholarship would alleviate part of the financial burden on my family while enabling me to remain focused on my long-term goal: becoming a compassionate, skilled physician who serves underserved populations and contributes meaningfully to the medical field. I view this opportunity not merely as financial aid, but as a meaningful investment in a future healthcare leader dedicated to advancing health equity and inspiring others. By supporting my journey, the KC MedBridge Scholarship would help bridge the gap between my aspirations and the impactful medical career I intend to build.

As a young Afghan woman, I carry with me the weight of a journey marked by loss, sacrifice, and resilience. I fled Afghanistan with my family when the Taliban returned to power. What was once a normal life quickly turned into fear and uncertainty. We left behind our home, language, and everything familiar to seek freedom and safety in the United States. Starting over in a new country has not been easy, but it’s shaped the person I am today determined, passionate, and hopeful. My mother, who now works as an assistant teacher, is the woman I look up to most. Despite not speaking fluent English when we arrived, she stepped up for our family, constantly pushing me to work hard, stay focused, and value education. Watching her rebuild her life from nothing showed me what true strength looks like. Her journey motivates me to fight for my future and to help others find theirs, too. Over the past year, I’ve worked hard to grow as a student and a leader. I’ve balanced high school with two college classes while playing on my school’s basketball team as captain. I’ve also been involved in Mending Matters, L.I.F.E. Advisory, and the César Chávez Club organizations that support mental health, youth leadership, and social justice. Through these programs, I’ve led conversations on mental wellness, advocated for students’ voices, and built a stronger community on my campus. I’ve also begun an internship focused on youth leadership development and civic engagement, where I’m learning how to create real change through organizing and policy. I plan to major in political science because I want to understand the systems that shape our lives and use that knowledge to break down barriers for women and immigrants like me. I’ve always believed that leadership is about more than holding a title—it’s about using your story to create space for others to rise. That’s what I try to do every day, whether it’s helping a younger student feel seen or encouraging other girls to speak up and lead. Being a Middle Eastern refugee in America comes with its own set of challenges, but I’ve learned to view those challenges as power. I speak five languages, which allows me to connect with people from many backgrounds. I’ve turned my hardships into fuel, and I now see my voice not as something to hide, but as a tool to lift others up. I know what it feels like to be silenced—and I’ve made it my mission to speak up, especially for women and girls who are still finding their voices. This scholarship would support my journey and help me continue paving a path not just for myself, but for those who come after me. I want to be a leader who advocates for change, challenges injustice, and mentors the next generation of young women who dream of doing the same. Through my story, I want others to see that we are not defined by where we come from, but by how we rise and I’m just getting started.