From Somalian Refugee To Princeton Freshman

Colleges & Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>A United Nations article about a fascinating young man who is a refugee from Somalia currently living in a camp in Kenya and who is apparently a member of this year's freshman class.</p>

<p>"Since I fled Somalia and arrived in Dadaab 13 years ago, I have never left the camp, except for a few days in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, where I went for paperwork.</p>

<p>"But that is about to change, hopefully.</p>

<p>"I have recently been admitted to Princeton, the prestigious American University located in New Jersey, U.S.A. I’m hoping to get a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry there. I have been admitted on a full scholarship, which covers tuition fees and living expenses.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.irinnews.org/webspecials/voices/Abass-Hassan-Mohamed.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.irinnews.org/webspecials/voices/Abass-Hassan-Mohamed.asp&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/webspecials/voices/Abass-Hassan.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.irinnews.org/webspecials/voices/Abass-Hassan.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

2

<p>This is impressive.</p>

3

<p>What will he do during summers?</p>

4

<p>Get a job.. What d'ya think?</p>

5

<p>Wow, really makes me appreciate the kinds of opportunities I'll have next year and how few people get them...</p>

<p>Gotta make the best of it.</p>

6

<p>What an amazing opportunity for both him and the school.</p>

7

<p>Quite frankly, that's amazing, not just his accomplishments, but how fortuitious he was; had the Canadian professor not suggested Mohamed take the SAT, and the Princeton professor not been visiting, Mohamed would have been left behind. The whole thing is extraordinary.</p>

8

<p>this is simply mindblowing.</p>

9

<p>I'm a somalian too, applying for the class of '11. Wonder how many somalis apply to princeton, can't be many. I live in Europe though.</p>

10

<p>He should almost have completed his freshmen year by now.</p>

11

<p>"Mawi survived a civil war in Ethiopia, a refugee camp in Sundan and overcame being on welfare in the U.S. to earn a scholarship to Harvard University and establish himself as America’s leading authority on student success...."</p>

<p><a href="http://ottawastart.com/story/3861.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ottawastart.com/story/3861.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

12

<p>[from the Hattiesburg American, 4.23.06]</p>

<p>"When she was 15, Liz Murray was a homeless New Yorker with drug-addicted parents. A few years later, she was a freshman at Harvard. And Saturday, she brought her message of personal perseverance and community cooperation to Hattiesburg..."</p>

<p><a href="http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060423/NEWS01/604230321/1002%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060423/NEWS01/604230321/1002&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

13

<p>I'm glad we made Harvard feel insecure enough in its humanitarian efforts that Byerly had to post how Harvard, too, has a refugee.</p>

<p>Good for Harvard!</p>

14

<p>Looks like Harvard had one first, and Princeton felt compelled to follow ... just like Yale with Talliban-guy!</p>

15

<p>Maybe Harvard can set a new trend by admitting only mentally crippled applicants ... they can start by re-admitting you byerly :)</p>

16

<p>haha .</p>

17

<p>You miss the point, Byerly. Not everything in life is petty inter-school rivalry over who did what first. The people we're talking about are real human beings, and shouldn't be interjected in threads to promote a school over another.</p>

18

<p>Sure, sure. They are all inspiring stories, don't you agree, "CautiousPessimism"?</p>

19

<p>Yes, they are .... and Liz Murray transferred to Columbia to be closer to her ailing father while she completed her education, I believe.</p>

20

<p>Right... and she seldom emphasizes that at stops on her tour, presumably because there wouldn't be as much of a market for a motivational speaker whose talk was captioned: "Homeless to Columbia."</p>