Sometimes, it takes losing everything to discover Who you really are. My story begins in a refugee camp and ends with hope. 

I was born in Eritrea in 2005, but when I was five, my family moved to Ethiopia seeking safety and freedom. We became refugees and were sent to live in May Aini Refugee Camp. At first, life in the camp felt strange. There were tents everywhere, the air was full of dust, and we often stood in long lines to get food and water. But slowly, it became home. We didn't have to pay rent, and every month we received free food. School and medical care were free too. The houses were small and made of soil, but they were ours. It was a hard life, but at least we were safe. 

From 2010 to 2021, I grew up in that camp. I started kindergarten there, then went to elementary school with my siblings. In 2019, while I was in eighth grade, war broke out in Ethiopia between the Tigray and Amhara regions. Everything changed. We were in the middle of the semester when the fighting started, and schools were forced to close.  I saw the war with my own eyes, people were running for safety, the sound of shooting filled the air, and my parents were crying and praying every night. Food stopped coming, the phones didn't work, and it wasn't safe to go to outside. We felt completely forgotten. The government focused on protecting its own cities, not refugees like us. 

The capital city, Addis Ababa, was still safe during that time. So in February 2021, my family decided to escape from the camp to the capital city. It was dangerous to leave because refugees were not supposed to move freely, but we had no other choice. We carried a little food and water with us and walked for a whole day. There were no cars, and even trying to find one Was too risky because if you got caught, they could sent you back to the camp. We walked for hours under the sun, tired and scared, but we kept going, hoping to survive. 

when finally reached Addis Abeba, everything felt new and strange. I started school again from the second semester of eighth grade, in a different language. Even though it was difficult, I worked hard and earned the highest grade in my class. 

Life continued, and I began high school in Addis Abeba from 2021 to May 2022. It was still hard to study in a second language, especially knowing that people in the camp were still suffering. I always thought about my friends who stayed behind, wondering if they had food to eat, if they were safe, or if they were even alive. Even with all the stress and sadness, I did well in school. I finished the year ranked second out of fifty-three students, with an average of 85%. 

But living in Addis Abeba was not easy. Refugees didn't have jobs or citizenship papers, and we had to pay rent, food, and school costs with no support. In the camp, we used to get free food and free education every month, but now everything depends on us. We hoped that one day we could finally move to the United States and start a better life. 

Finally, on July 13, 2022, our dream came true. We arrived in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I will never forget the feeling of stepping off that plane, the cold air, the quiet streets, and the thought that my family was finally safe. I started high school here and graduated in 2024, one of the proudest moments of my life. 

Now, I am studying at Western Michigan University, working toward my bachelor's degree. I live with my family and continue to help my younger siblings. Every day, I remember where I came from and how far I've come. My story began in a refugee camp, but it continues here with hope, education, and a future I once only dreamed about.

 

Every time I walk into my classroom at Western Michigan University, I remember the girl who studied by candlelight in a refugee camp and I study for her.