What kind of challenges or barriers have you overcome in order to pursue your education?
As a female student who comes from the occupied territory of Palestine, I have faced many obstacles in pursuing my education. Living under a foreign military occupation had a defining impact on my life at a young age. The separation wall, a 26 ft concrete barrier with surveillance equipment and sniper towers, had severely restricted our movements, making me feel trapped; I was growing up in a cage. At the age of 10, I was denied entrance into Jerusalem until eligible for an ID, which I would receive when I turned sixteen. As a result of such distress, I had no aspirations, dreams or goals. I blamed the wall for everything that went wrong in life. My parents were under tremendous pressure, juggling two jobs and three kids, to get us out of the distress and occupation. At the age of 11, my family and I had the blissful, yet rare opportunity to migrate to the United States. The instant culture shock of the welcoming environment, coupled with abundant educational opportunities, helped me gain a new perspective on life. From then on, I've made it my goal to push myself and work harder and never to place myself in a situation where I have nothing to look forward to. Looking over my journey, I regret letting a wall shape my personality at a young age. But I have come to realize that the wall, although a barrier, made me stronger and more determined. I finished middle school in Tennessee with a GPA of 3.7. I then Graduated high school in Virginia with an advanced diploma and an unweighted GPA of 3.5. And most recently, I completed my first semester of college with a GPA of 4.0. With the opportunity of migrating to the United States, I had been able to overcome the lack of motivation I had previously felt. From then onwards, I have challenged myself every day to succeed in order to contribute to my community both in Palestine and the United States.
education obstacles in Palestine
As a female student who comes from the occupied territory of Palestine, I have faced many obstacles in pursuing my education. Living under a foreign military occupation had a defining impact on my life at a young age. The separation wall, a 26 ft concrete barrier with surveillance equipment and sniper towers, had severely restricted our movements, making me feel trapped; I was growing up in a cage. At the age of 10, I was denied entrance into Jerusalem until eligible for an ID, which I would receive when I turned sixteen. As a result of such distress, I had no aspirations, dreams or goals. I blamed the wall for everything that went wrong in life. My parents were under tremendous pressure, juggling two jobs and three kids, to get us out of the distress and occupation. At the age of 11, my family and I had the blissful, yet rare opportunity to migrate to the United States. The instant culture shock of the welcoming environment, coupled with abundant educational opportunities, helped me gain a new perspective on life. From then on, I've made it my goal to push myself and work harder and never to place myself in a situation where I have nothing to look forward to. Looking over my journey, I regret letting a wall shape my personality at a young age. But I have come to realize that the wall, although a barrier, made me stronger and more determined. I finished middle school in Tennessee with a GPA of 3.7. I then Graduated high school in Virginia with an advanced diploma and an unweighted GPA of 3.5. And most recently, I completed my first semester of college with a GPA of 4.0. With the opportunity of migrating to the United States, I had been able to overcome the lack of motivation I had previously felt. From then onwards, I have challenged myself every day to succeed in order to contribute to my community both in Palestine and the United States.