I quickly realized as I started college that life will not take you in the direction that you always think it will. That is the only way that I can explain moving to Missoula, Montana directly after graduating from Clemson University in South Carolina. However, I know now that this is exactly what I need to be doing, working with refugee youth to help their educational and career goals become a reality. But this rewarding work does not come without its challenges. Luckily, I have found a community of other people devoted to serving our refugee clients as well as the community of refugee youth who continually inspire me and make me laugh every day.

As the AmeriCorps College Coach with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the refugee resettlement agency in Missoula, I wear many hats and no day has ever looked the same. Daily activities have included registering new refugee children for school, giving school tours, making sure they know how to use the bus, helping high school students apply for college, helping them get jobs, etc. There have also been days when my role is to watch a baby while her mom cooks, to play Uno with the middle school girls, or even take kids trick or treating.

One of the most impactful programs that I have been able to be a part of so far is the college study group that is put on every Wednesday night. This is a time that refugee college students can come to get help on assignments as well as high school seniors to apply for college or start their career. This is a newer program that started slow but in just two months, has taken off and has not only been helpful to the students themselves, but has also inspired me greatly and allowed me to form real connections with the community. Some people may say, “What is the big deal? Why is this so inspiring to you?” One of the biggest things that I have learned in these past two months of service is how much refugee youth crave education. As someone who has grown up in a family and community where college is just a given, it is refreshing and eye-opening to see how much these kids desire to continue their education, to work as hard as they can to be successful. You can see why when you learn more about where they came from, what horrors they escaped through war and other conflict. I have spoken to multiple children and new families where in their home country, education was scarce and the classroom environment was so different compared to how it is in the United States. One of the most disturbing things that I have been asked about was a teenage girl asking me if she was going to get hit in the American classroom like she did in her classroom at home. These types of conversations have changed my perspective and opened my eyes to just how blessed we are in this country, even though nothing is perfect. All they want to do is work hard and devour knowledge to become successful to help provide for their families.

One of our frequent visitors to the college study group is a 17-year-old boy named MS. I have gotten to know M very well and have actually been upgraded to “homie” status. He will be a first-generation college student who came from Syria three years ago. He is extremely motivated to go to school and since we started working together in August, has now been accepted to the University of Montana for pre-med with the goal of becoming a surgeon. He is passionate about acting, participating in his theater group at school and shows me his monologues with pride. He is extremely funny and a staple at college study night and I cannot wait to see what he does at school.

It has been quite a learning experience working with refugees of different cultures and experiences and I love that I learn something new every day. It is not always easy, especially with the language barrier and cultural differences, but it is definitely worth it.