2008 Woodie Awards
Coming to ISU is not an easy task
Brandy Egertson
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Life
Students like Mei, who have taken English in high school, still had to rigorously study in order to pass the exam.
But the story doesn't end there. After passing the exam or having a full English education, students must prove that either they or a sponsor has $19,980 to support them for one year. When all this paperwork has been validated, ISU authorizes an I-20 form, which allows the student to get a student visa.
Hussaini's father was a graduate from London University and an Afghanistan film producer. When Hussaini was in tenth grade, the Taliban took over the already politically chaotic country. The country was essentially put into lockdown. Television, movies, and even school came to a crashing halt.
Within a few moments his father lost his job and he and his brothers could no longer continue their education. For some time after that the sons worked to provide for the family since the movie industry no longer existed. Eventually Hussaini and his family fled to Pakistan as refugees.
For seven years he and his family worked, and his education did not continue. " I had a dream to get a degree from U.S. or the U.K." said Hussaini, a dream he made come true several years later.
When the U.N. peacekeeping forces brought some stability to the country, Hussaini and his family returned. Hussaini had followed in the footsteps of his father while in Pakistan and learned English. He was then hired by the United Nations Embassy in Afghanistan and eventually became the National Security Coordinator, because he knew English.
It was with the help of his friends at the embassy and his family legacy that Hussaini got through the arduous process of coming to America. A process that took him over a year to complete.
But when his job was finished at the embassy, the staff sent him to America with this sentiment, "You have done a great job at the United Nations and I hope you do also in the U.S."
Political upheaval may not be the trial for everyone. People like Mei, who is from the politically stable country of China, found the newness of the program itself to be taxing. "I was the first one in my college to go," said Mei.
But the story doesn't end there. After passing the exam or having a full English education, students must prove that either they or a sponsor has $19,980 to support them for one year. When all this paperwork has been validated, ISU authorizes an I-20 form, which allows the student to get a student visa.
Hussaini's father was a graduate from London University and an Afghanistan film producer. When Hussaini was in tenth grade, the Taliban took over the already politically chaotic country. The country was essentially put into lockdown. Television, movies, and even school came to a crashing halt.
Within a few moments his father lost his job and he and his brothers could no longer continue their education. For some time after that the sons worked to provide for the family since the movie industry no longer existed. Eventually Hussaini and his family fled to Pakistan as refugees.
For seven years he and his family worked, and his education did not continue. " I had a dream to get a degree from U.S. or the U.K." said Hussaini, a dream he made come true several years later.
When the U.N. peacekeeping forces brought some stability to the country, Hussaini and his family returned. Hussaini had followed in the footsteps of his father while in Pakistan and learned English. He was then hired by the United Nations Embassy in Afghanistan and eventually became the National Security Coordinator, because he knew English.
It was with the help of his friends at the embassy and his family legacy that Hussaini got through the arduous process of coming to America. A process that took him over a year to complete.
But when his job was finished at the embassy, the staff sent him to America with this sentiment, "You have done a great job at the United Nations and I hope you do also in the U.S."
Political upheaval may not be the trial for everyone. People like Mei, who is from the politically stable country of China, found the newness of the program itself to be taxing. "I was the first one in my college to go," said Mei.
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