My name is Ruta Baguma, and I am a 17 year old student living in Indianapolis, IN. I was born in a refugee camp in Uganda called kyaka ll after my parents fled the ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of the congo. I lived in the camp until I was nine years old, and though I was young, I vividly remember the struggles my family endured. As refugees, we were often treated as if we were less than human. My parents worked tirelessly to provide the basic necessities, yet it always felt like an uphill battle. Education was very difficult. While public schools were free for Ugandan citizens, refugee children were required to pay fees–an impossible burden for my parents. I remember my parents telling us to work hard in primary school because they could not afford to send us to secondary school. One day, my family was selected in the U.S refugee lottery. Our journey to America began in 2014, and though I was only young, I had to go through interviews, vaccination, and endless procedures to be approved for relocation. We arrived in the United States in November 2016, and it was nothing like I imagined. It was freezing, and my parents, who didn’t speak English, struggled to navigate our new reality. They could not afford a car or even drive, so they walked everywhere, even to the grocery store in the snow. Learning English was one of my biggest struggles. I attended a predominantly white school where I had no one to relate to. My teachers frequently sent letters home stating that I was far behind in English, but they didn’t know the challenges we face at home–simple things like communicating or even buying food were major obstacles. One day, a woman came to my classroom to take me out for extra help. Looking back, I believe she was heaven-sent. She worked with me one-on-one until I was able to pass both my reading and writing tests and I was able to move to fifth grade. Life as an immigrant student has never been easy , but I have grown so much through these challenges. Since coming to the United States, I have learned the power of resilience, faith and hard work. Last year, I became a citizen of the United states. This journey has taught me never to forget where I came from. Uganda was my home for the first nine years of my life, and my family always reminds me, “Never lose sight of your future, but never forget your past.” My experiences have shaped my career aspirations to become a nurse. I am currently a Certified Nursing Assistant and working towards obtaining my Medical Assistant certification. My goal is to attend Indiana University Indianapolis to earn my Bachelors degree in Nursing, so that one day I can return to the refugee camp and open a clinic for women and young girls. For the past two years, My mother and I have tried to provide food to 50 families during the holiday season in kayak ll, offering encouragement to those who feel forgotten. I know that my journey is not just my own– it represents hope for thousands of refugees who believe their lives has no meaning. I want them to see that they are not alone and that their dreams are possible.

My name is Ruta Baguma, I was born in a refugee camp in Uganda and I am a senior at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School. I have always had a desire for helping others, which has driven me to pursue a career in Nursing. As a member of the Indiana University Health program, I have had the opportunity to gain more experience in healthcare and leadership. Moreover, I work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Community involvement has always been important to me. Since getting my job, I have tried my best to give back to my community that shaped me by providing food to 50 families in the refugee camp where I grew up. Seeing the impact of my efforts has strengthened my commitment to serving others, both in the healthcare field and beyond. During my school hours, I support English learners in my school by mentoring and encouraging them to keep going even if they face challenges with learning a new language or adapting to a new culture. Financially, Pursuing a post secondary education is a struggle for me. As someone who works hard to support myself and my family, I always find it difficult to save for school. I am the first person in my family to attend college and my parents find it hard to support my education because they are trying to save money for my grandmother's cancer treatment. To me, scholarships and loans are my only option to pay for my education and help me achieve my dreams of becoming a nurse. With financial support, I can focus on my studies and continue my mission of caring for others. Keeping children and the youth safe is another cause I care deeply about. I have always believed that safety starts with awareness and support. At school, I encourage students who seem to be victims of bullying to start an open conversation about how bullying impacts our mental Health. I also stand up for students who can’t speak for themselves, especially students who are learning English. Last year, I created an Instagram account where I share encouraging quotes to uplift and inspire others. I have a strong belief that even small words of encouragement can make a big difference in someone’s life. My goal is to inspire others to stand up against bullying, create a more supportive environment and remind others that the world still needs kind people.

To me, resilience is the ability to rise above challenges, to push through hardships and turn them to strength. I have demonstrated resilience by sharing my story and experiences to help empower other people. Born in a refugee camp in Uganda, I faced an environment of uncertainty and limited opportunity. Despite the struggles, I remained determined to create a brighter future. At nine years old, I started a braiding business to help my family pay for my school fees. Looking back, my small business taught me how to solve problems and keep moving forward. When I came to the United States, I faced many challenges with adjusting to a different culture and learning English but I didn’t let my challenges determine my future. During my junior year in high school, I became a Certified Nursing Assistant and this has been one of my greatest tests of resilience. Balancing long work hours with school is not easy but my passion for healthcare keeps me going. My personal challenges have allowed me to inspire others. I understand what it means to feel lost or discouraged, which leads me to connect with people in similar situations. At school, I assist English learners by sharing my own story with them. Many feel hopeless at first, but when I tell them about my own journey, I usually see them beginning to see their hardships temporarily. At work, I provide care to my patients, many of whom are in difficult circumstances. When I bring comfort to others, it reminds me why I chose this path. Moving forward, I plan to major in Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College and get my Registered Nurse license. I want to continue making a difference, not only for my patients but also for future nurses and English learners. I want to continue to inspire those who feel like giving up. My journey has taught me that resilience is not about avoiding hardships, it is about pushing through them, having hope for a better tomorrow and most importantly using your struggles as motivation to keep you moving forward. I want to use my journey to empower others and show proof that your past does not determine your future, only you can determine your future. As a Registered Nurse I hope to continue to inspire others to keep working hard for their dreams until they become reality, even if that means facing obstacles and hardships.

My name is Ruta Baguma, and I am a 17-year-old student living in Indianapolis, IN. I was born in a refugee camp in Uganda called kyaka ll after my parents fled the ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I lived in the camp until I was nine years old, and though I was young, I vividly remember the struggles my family endured. As refugees, we were often treated as if we were less than human. My parents worked tirelessly to provide the basic necessities, yet it always felt like an uphill battle. Education was difficult. While public schools were free for Ugandan citizens, refugee children were required to pay fees–an impossible burden for my parents. I remember my parents telling us to work hard in primary school because they could not afford to send us to secondary school. One day, my family was selected in the U.S refugee lottery. Our journey to America began in 2014, and though I was only young, I had to go through interviews, vaccination, and endless procedures to be approved for relocation. We arrived in the United States in November 2016, and it was nothing like I imagined. It was freezing, and my parents, who didn’t speak English, struggled to navigate our new reality. They couldn’t drive or afford a car, so they walked everywhere, even to the grocery store in the snow. Learning English was one of my biggest struggles. I attended a predominantly white school where I had no one to relate to. My teachers frequently sent letters home stating that I was far behind in English, but they didn’t know the challenges we face at home–simple things like communicating or even buying food were major obstacles. One day, a woman came to my classroom to take me out for extra help. Looking back, I believe she was heaven-sent. She worked with me one-on-one until I was able to pass both my reading and writing tests and I was able to move to fifth grade. Life as an immigrant student has never been easy , but I have grown so much through these challenges. Since coming to the United States, I have learned the power of resilience, faith and hard work. Last year, my mother became a U.S. citizen, which made my little brother and me citizens as well. I know that here in the United States my dreams are achievable and the sky is my limit. This journey has taught me never to forget where I came from. Uganda was my home for the first nine years of my life, and my family always reminds me, “Never lose sight of your future, but never forget your past.” My experiences have shaped my career aspirations to become a nurse. I am currently a Certified Nursing Assistant and working towards obtaining my Medical Assistant certification. My goal is to attend Ivy tech community college to obtain my RN and transfer to Indiana University Indianapolis for my BSN so that one day I can return to the refugee camp and open a clinic for women and young girls. I know that my journey is not just my own– it represents hope for thousands of refugees who believe their lives have no meaning. I want them to see that they are not alone and that their dreams are possible.