When I was growing up in Afghanistan, I strongly believed that education could change lives. With a lot of hard work and quiet determination, I secured admission to study business at Kabul University, one of the country’s most prestigious universities. As the oldest child in my family, I always had this image in my mind of building a successful career, helping my parents, and creating more opportunities for my family and my community.

But, in 2020, things changed. I was forced to leave my country with my younger brother, to seek safety in India as the situation in Afghanistan became increasingly difficult and unsafe for me. In an instant, my life and my education were suddenly put on hold; all the goals that I had worked so hard to achieve seemed to fade away like a beautiful dream left unfinished. I stepped into an unfamiliar journey, uncertain of what the future would bring.

We were young and far from home; our parents stayed back in Afghanistan. Honestly, starting over in a new country, without any family support, was one of the hardest things I have ever had to face. I was filled with questions and doubts. I did not know what awaited me there, nor if I would ever have the chance to return to my studies and continue pursuing the goals I had once imagined for myself. The future felt unclear, but I carried with me the hope that one day I would find my way back to education and the dreams I had been forced to leave behind.

Life wasn’t simple. Without a formal legal status, access to proper education, formal employment or any social benefits, we faced severe financial uncertainty. The first years were a bit lonely too. I had a few friends, and I often felt cut off from everything. My brother and I took up jobs so we could take care of ourselves while keeping up with our education. We tried to juggle jobs, study, and meet day-to-day responsibilities. It all seemed never-ending. Sometimes it felt like the uncertainty would be everlasting, but I refused to stop. I figured out how to build a life from the ground up, how to adapt to changes, and how to keep going in the margins of society, in the face of constant challenges.

Through all of this, my brother was one of my biggest sources of support. Even though he is younger than me, he encouraged me when moments felt heavy, and he reminded me we were dealing with it all together, side by side.

I also kept my belief that education would help me move forward and build a good life for me. I continued learning English and I pursued my studies through the National Institute of Open Schooling, while working to support myself and my brother. I also tutored Afghan children in India, hoping to continue my learning while also helping children in similar situations as me. My stay here taught me resilience, self-reliance, and the slow kind of patience.

Meanwhile, after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, I could only witness from far away as they slowly rolled back any and all opportunity for Afghan girls and women in the country, opportunities that I once could avail. As someone who really believes in the power of education, I wanted to ensure that Afghan girls could access some form of education or tutoring. I decided to volunteer with Eagle Online Academy, as a teacher for Afghan girls who courageously continued their studies even with massive obstacles in front of them. Seeing those girls learn and grow, inspired me and filled me with hope and joy. Their stubborn determination made me feel stronger as it deepened my own commitment to education, and also reminded me why learning matters in the first place.

As I continued to live my life in India, someone who had a big impact on my journey was my English teacher, Sayed Murad. In addition to all the knowledge he gave me, he also introduced me to the Duolingo University Access Program, through which I could legally gain a global education opportunity in another country. Initially, I wasn’t confident about whether I would be accepted. In spite of all the uncertainty, I kept encouraging myself to at least give this opportunity my best shot. Based on my application essays and my grades, I was so happy to be selected as a Duolingo Scholar. But I knew that the work was far from over, and that I needed to present a competitive application for admission into a good university.

Applying to universities was another one of the most stressful periods of my life. I was juggling work, studying, and the anxiety of dealing with the constant uncertainty about my future. There were days when I was completely drained, weighed down by an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. I kept overthinking about potential rejections, or even potential acceptances and how I would even pay for my education if accepted, or what would happen if my applications didn’t work out. Still, I never truly stopped. Even when I was exhausted, I motivated myself to keep going. I studied, and polished my applications, in the hope of moving toward my goal. I told myself that all my efforts, even if seemingly small, will eventually take me closer to the future I really wanted.

During that process, I was fortunate to have the support of my scholarship advisor, Laura Kaub. Through the times of doubt and uncertainty. Laura guided me through each step of the application process, answered countless questions, and encouraged me on the days I felt low. Sometimes, she felt less like an advisor and more like a therapist and friend, listening to my concerns and helping me stay focused when the stress felt overwhelming. Her support gave me confidence to keep moving forward, and I am deeply grateful for the role she played in helping me reach my goals.

Eventually, my hard work paid off. I got a scholarship through the Duolingo University Access Program, and I was admitted to Indiana University Bloomington in the United States of America. This opportunity entirely changed my life, and opened doors I once thought were out of reach. The decision to leave India was bittersweet. Today, I’m studying Cybersecurity and Global Policy at Indiana University, and I guess you could say it’s kind of where my focus naturally ended up. I picked this field because I’m genuinely interested in technology and figuring out things that do not make sense; real problem solving, not just theory.

Cybersecurity is also a field where women are underrepresented, and, now, I hope to shift that balance, bit by bit. It would be a matter of great pride to be able to do that as an Afghan woman. I wish to show that Afghan women can succeed in any field, if they’re given the chance and the support. Besides classes, I work as a Research Assistant for the OCE Lab at Indiana University. My tasks include data entry, research coding, and assisting with organizing and managing research data. I like this role because it helps me sharpen useful technical skills and analytical thinking, while supporting projects that feel meaningful and not just busywork.

Now, when I look back, my path is really a series of moves from Kabul to India, and then later to the United States. Along the way I faced tremendous challenges, displacement, a series of uncertainty, financial stress, and that heavy responsibility of building a future as a refugee far from home. Yet, with every obstacle, my determination only grew stronger. It pushed me to keep learning, growing, and giving back to my community. So, my story isn’t only about getting past difficult moments. It’s also about hope, possibility, and the impact of education.

Education is one of the many restrictions the Taliban regime has imposed on Afghan women. But I want people everywhere to understand that Afghan women are strong, efficient, and resilient, even in the face of such profound injustice. We have dreams, big ambitions, and talent too. And if we’re offered opportunity, we can do extraordinary things, even if it is through a long and winding road.  I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I know this is only the start. With education, perseverance, and faith, I want to keep opening doors for myself and others, while proving that no obstacle is too daunting when you refuse to quit on your dreams.