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Alaa: Leaving Everything Behind November 5th, 2018

Alaa, 2018 first prize essay winner, tells how she and her family escaped Aleppo, Syria, endured life in a Jordaian refugee camp, where she suffered prejudice and isolation. She summons memories of leaving her grandmother in Syria and the sadness of not being able to see her again before she died.

While in Jordan, she confesses that even though some treated her with prejudice she met influential teacher advocates there. Alaa tells of finally gaining entry to the US, moving to Phoenix, once again meeting supportive teacher advocates who taught her English and gave her the strength to survive the transition to life in America. She is now a Freshman at Phoenix College, studying to become an English teacher to give back to her fellow refugees.