The Western Union Foundation is proud to have awarded 70 scholarships this year to high-potential, in-need students who are struggling to afford higher education. Mohammad is one of the outstanding scholarship recipients who is driven to succeed and passionate about pursuing a career in cybersecurity… a dream which feels more attainable now with his scholarship support.
Born and raised in a low-income household in Afghanistan, Mohammad used to face daily challenges that many people cannot imagine. Mohammad and his family lived in an unsafe area where they lacked consistent access to electricity and the internet – and feared for their safety on a regular basis.
“Things were more dangerous for me since my father was working with the U.S. military and we were under the threat of the Taliban,” Mohammad said. “My siblings and I did not feel safe when we were at school and even at home.”
Despite this stressful environment, Mohammad loved school and focused his efforts on studying with a goal of passing Afghanistan’s government university exam. “My aim was that I should get a good grade on the examination, get selected in my dream major, and hope for a bright future,” shared Mohammad. He was ecstatic when he passed the exam, but just six months later his life abruptly changed.
“My father got approved for a Special Immigrant Visa at the same time the Taliban advanced and captured part of Afghanistan. We left Kabul by an urgent flight to Washington, DC. We were traveling for almost 23 hours, and I knew that a new life full of challenges and a bright future was waiting for me,” Mohammad recalls. “I have been working so hard since we arrived in the United States, and getting a higher education is a big goal. I am a first-generation student and I want to be an example to my siblings and to my next generation. The Western Union Foundation Scholarship has helped me financially and mentally to focus on school.”
The Western Union Foundation is proud to fuel the pursuits of aspiring international and immigrant students with scholarships to help them afford higher education. Click here to learn more about the Foundation’s scholarship programs and awardees.
Click here to donate to the Western Union Foundation and help more aspiring international and immigrant students afford their higher education.
