No
Challenge too Great
for Pair From Afghanistan
By Jennifer Fusco
For
two Afghan students on full scholarships, coming to America meant experiencing
many things for the first time—freedom, equality and hope, among
them.
Alean Haider and Samira Panah came to Montclair State in September as
participants in the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women, a program founded
two years ago by social worker Paula Nirschel, wife of the President of
Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. The students also received
a $5,000 scholarship from the MSU Student Government Association and the
class of 2003.
Haider and Panah will spend the next four years here and will return to
Afghanistan upon graduation to help their country rebuild.
Facing the challenge and uncertainty of coming to a foreign country might
seem daunting, but these young women have braved far more growing up under
the rule of the Taliban. Both managed to become educated under difficult
circumstances. Haider finished her English studies in secret then vowed
to share her knowledge with other young Afghan women. Now 23, she ran
an underground English language school for female students as young as
15 years old from her family's home in Kabul.
Panah, 21, the daughter of a judge and a mother who taught primary school,
spent the Taliban years in Pakistan with her two sisters and two brothers.
Prior to coming to MSU, she served as an interpreter, English teacher,
course coordinator and office supervisor with the United Nations Development
Program for Afghanistan. She became assistant to the international trade
adviser for the minister of commerce at the U.S. Agency for International
Development in Pakistan.
Haider and Panah's arrival was met with much media attention. The
pair has been featured in newspaper articles focusing on their unprecedented
journey to pursue higher education in the United States. "I am proud
to talk about myself and my country," said Panah. "It is really
important because life is based on experience, so all this attention increases
my self-confidence."
"I feel a little brave," said Haider. "Afghanistan is a
long distance away. The situation that we lived in was very limited. I
am proud for Afghan people. Even though they don't have a lot of
opportunity, they are brave and they have the ability to do anything they
want to do—not just me, but all Afghan people, especially women."
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Alean
Haider
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Of course they have faced many difficulties balancing their
culture with the lifestyle of an American college campus. "The hard
part is to be far from our families and to adjust to the different environment,"
admitted Haider.
Haider and Panah are residents of the University's newest residential
facility, The Village at Little Falls, where they live in separate apartments.
"It's the first time I've been on my own so it was really
difficult, especially during the first days," said Haider. "Now
it's been a little bit better adjusting. But it's good that
it makes me self-sufficient. When I was in my country, most of the time
I did a lot of things by advisement and support of my family but here
I have to do things by myself, which is a good experience."
Panah agrees. "Our culture is different from American culture. In
our country, students have 50 percent responsibilities and the other 50
percent belongs to teachers," she explained. "But in the United
States, students accept all the responsibilities while studying at college."
The most difficult adjustment they've had to make is to the food.
"The only things I've been able to eat are pizza and French
fries," said Haider, laughing at what is probably the typical diet
of most college freshmen.
And there are some things, Panah says, people don't expect about
her. "People are surprised how fluently I am able to speak English,"
she said. "Also, I have traveled to many places since I've been
in the United States like Boston, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York."
When it comes to religion, Haider and Panah struggle to maintain their
religious commitments with their busy schedules. "We pray five times
a day," explained Haider. "Sometimes I miss my morning prayer
because I study until midnight and it is hard to wake up early in the
morning, especially when I have exams."
But you won't hear either complaining about their schedules. They
are truly dedicated to their education. "The thing I enjoy most about
being here is studying because that was my wish," said Haider. "I
really study hard. I like all my classes."
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Samira
Panah
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Haider is majoring in economics and hopes to take her experiences
and knowledge back to her country. "The economy in Afghanistan is
low and I want to try in the field of economics to help the poor people
of my country," she said.
A political science major, Panah would like to focus on international
relations. She plans to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or with
the United Nations.
Although they have enjoyed their first semester, both women
are counting the days until they return home for the summer. Until then,
when Haider is sad and wants to feel closer to her family, she listens
to Afghani music since calling home has proven costly. "I got a bill
that was $553," she said.
Looking back at what she's already accomplished, Haider feels a sense
of pride and hope. "It has been a lot of change for me. When I think
about what I've done in just four months and that I will be here
for four years, there will be lots of possibilities and we will gain a
lot of experience and knowledge," she said. "The same way I'm
feeling, my family is feeling as well. Always, when they call me, they
encourage me as they do at home."
And when Haider looks ahead, she envisions not only her own future, but
the future of women in her homeland as well. "Some of the families
in Afghanistan don't want their daughters to go for an outside education.
It's a good experience for our people. When we go back to our country
they will see the positive effect it has had and the positive change in
us."
Click here learn about Montclair State's
international student enrollment for this year.
Click here to read about some faculty
who are conducting global scholarship.