Today, I’d like to share the story of Sara, a young woman from Burma who, after fleeing persecution, was resettled by LIRS in Michigan. Her one dream was to go to school, and thanks to our partner, Bethany Christian Services, Sara was able to realize that dream.
Sara is an inspiring young lady from Burma who was resettled to the United States in 2010 after spending several years in a refugee camp in Thailand. She came alone – with her family remaining in Burma and Thailand – knew little English, and was unsure what to expect here.
The only certainty in her life was her dream to go to school. And a few years later she has surpassed all of the challenges that life put before her and has excelled in high school!
When she first arrived, Sara assumed she would have to work and would not be able to go to school. But to her excitement, she was helped by the staff of LIRS affiliate Bethany Christian Services and able to enroll in a local high school.
“My education was hard, but I was determined and had a lot of help from others. I got my education and I know that if my family knew then they would be proud,” Sara says.
“Sara came to the U.S. knowing very little English, but she focused and successfully graduated from high school and advanced to study at college,” says a Bethany Christian Services worker who supported Sara.
“She’s an inspiration to so many people. There are teens in our community who struggle to make it through high school, yet Sara experienced a violent situation where she had to leave her family and country, risking her life, and she overcame so many challenges to accomplish what she has to date.”
*Name changed for security.
This story was originally printed in Rebuilding Hope, our monthly newsletter where we share inspirational stories of the undaunted hope of migrants and refugees as they rebuild their lives here in the United States. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here. Plus, if you make a donation to LIRS, you can receive an expanded print version of the newsletter four times a year.