The Afghan Scholars Initiative

The very first thought about going to college in the United States came to me in a biology lab at Esteqlal High School in Kabul, where a bunch of other high school kids and I were getting ready to take the A.S.I’s first scholarship exam. In front of the classroom, Qiamuddin Amiry, A.S.I’s co-founder, was talking to us about the two scholarships at Gould Academy while showing us the location of Gould on the weird looking map of the United States he had drawn earlier. When Qiam mentioned that the scholarships were for only two years of high school, this crucial question, whose answer I found out a few weeks ago, had been floating in my mind quite frequently: “Would I be able to go to college in the United States?” As a receiver of one of the scholarships, I made my life’s hardest decision. I decided to come to Gould knowing that I might not succeed to get into a U.S. college. Then the journey of my college search started with hesitations and decisiveness, excitement and nervousness, and opportunities and risks.
I began my research about the process of going to a U.S. college as soon as I got to Gould. I started asking my friends about the complicated process of college admissions. For instance, I contacted Khabir Sallah, my friend’s cousin, who had gotten into St. Lawrence University a year earlier. I always made sure I never missed any college counseling meeting thinking of them as the most important steps of my future. The more I learned about college admissions, the more complicated the situation seemed.
Knowing that everything (from approaching a college tour guide to standardized test scores) mattered in the college selection process, I started drafting a list of colleges I wanted to apply to. An important and intimidating factor about my college decision was the full financial aid or scholarship I needed. Making this list took me over a year because I would find dozens of colleges that would “fit me,” but I would probably not get full financial assistance. This idea of “a college that fits you” made little sense to me until I visited Williams College in October last year.
In the early fall of last year, I received an email from college counseling saying that Williams had a program called Windows on Williams and that if I was interested in taking part. I did not reply until I researched its website a little in depth. I learned about Williams study abroad program with Oxford University and its Oxford style tutorial. I also found out that Williams had a master’s program called Center for Developing Economics which is designed to help people from poor countries to become effective economic policy-makers in developing their countries. Williams seemed to me different from other small liberal arts colleges. However, I did not consider applying to Williams until after I went on this program.
During my two day visit, I encountered a lot of facts that made me take Williams very seriously. What impressed me was not what the college had already planned for us but what I found out myself by talking to students, professors and checking out the general environment. I met Abdullah Awad, a Jordanian freshman at Williams, who really made a big impression on me. Initially I had a host for my visit, but as soon as I got to know Abdullah, he offered me his room in which he, his roommate, and I would talk about a Williams experience, from academics to pastime activities.
Now I am relieved of the pressure I had felt before my acceptance to Williams College, my first choice school. This was one of the major steps to my dreams of the future. I am sure that Williams will be a place that will challenge me in ways that will boost my understanding of the world. In return, I hope that I will add something to the Williams community. The pride and honor of this achievement goes to my dear family in Afghanistan, to my teachers, to the A.S.I., and to all those who have helped me with the process. Congratulations everybody!

Entry By: Sikandar Ahmadi

If I want to write about my experience in the United States, what to write about? There is not one thing specifically to write about. My life, education, school, weather—in short everything has changed. I experienced everything new from my room up to my classes in School. I still see things that I never saw before. When I see my classes, school, and other new things I remember my past and my school in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan some days we didn’t have something to sit and study. If we had blackboard we didn’t have chalk and if we had chalk we didn’t have blackboard and so on. On that time I didn’t thought of this opportunity to have TVs and projectors in every class to see every lesson in real life. I feel lucky that I am here and having the best education along with other students from all over the world.

First I met diverse students from different countries, for instance students from China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Iraq, Lebanon, Korea, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Australia, and many other countries. I experienced diverse community from all over the world. This experience taught me more about the culture, people, and languages of the other countries. At least now I know one word from each language. Asking about the culture, language, and about a student from different countries makes me think about the people of the world. The community that I am studying with is not just the United States but also the entire world.

I have the opportunity to research, write, and participate in my interested subjects at OES. I have the possibilities, equipment, and the teachers to help me do that—not only in academics but also in activities where I never had the chance to show my talents. The school teaches me how to use my thoughts and my ability in both academics and activities.

One of my experiences was playing soccer in my school in fall. Which I called it football in Afghanistan. However, I couldn’t go to the soccer camp in the summer but I started to play in one of our school team. I really enjoyed it because in Afghanistan I played soccer with my friends on dirt and dust but in here I played on the grass. I am very happy that along with my studies at OES, I get sports training as well.

I am totally experiencing a new and different life in the United States. I have the opportunity of studying, creating, and thinking. I am very glad of having this chance to explore my ideas and thoughts. I want to use this opportunity to get a good education. This is the opportunity for me to make opportunities for millions of kids in Afghanistan. Who doesn’t have the basic education or don’t have a place where they could study.