Finding My Place in This World: From Refugee to RISE Case Manager

Read the story of an Afghan refugee, in her own words.

I grew up in a home filled with love, warmth, and a sense of purpose. My mother, a woman of strength and wisdom, always believed in the power of education. She had a dream for her children—to see them succeed, to see them chase their dreams, and to create a future where they could be proud of themselves. I was blessed to have a mother who believed that education could open any door, no matter how difficult the journey.

I followed that dream with all my heart. I started school at a young age, and my passion for learning grew stronger with each passing year. When I graduated as the top student, I felt unstoppable and proud to make my mother proud. I thought nothing could stand in my way. But life, as we know, can sometimes throw unexpected challenges at us.

My country went through difficult times, and it felt like all the dreams I had worked so hard for were slipping away. It was a time when hope was scarce, and the future seemed darker than ever. My mother’s dreams for me, my own dreams, felt impossible. But I knew I couldn’t give up. I had to keep going. So, I made the hardest decision of my life: I chose to leave my family, my home, and everything I had ever known to seek a new future in a land far from home.

When I arrived in Delaware, I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t even know how to pronounce its name properly, and the city felt like a world away from everything I had ever known. It was a small, quiet place, and I felt even smaller. I arrived at night, and as I walked through the streets of Newark, everything seemed dark and empty. The weight of loneliness pressed down on my chest, and all I wanted was to find someone who could understand me, someone who could speak my language, someone who could make me feel like I wasn’t completely lost in this unfamiliar world.

But then came a light, a glimmer of hope. A lady from the University of Delaware arrived to pick us up. Though I couldn’t understand much of what she said, her kindness was clear. She took me to my new home, but all I could think about was how much I longed to be surrounded by familiar faces, to find comfort in something I knew. But when I met my case manager from JFS, everything changed.

She wasn’t just a case manager; she was an angel in disguise. The moment I saw her, I felt a warmth that I hadn’t felt in a long time. She smiled at me, and at that moment, it was as if the sun had broken through the clouds, warming my heart. It was a smile that reached deep inside me, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe again.

I remember hugging her tightly, the weight of my fears and anxieties melting away with every second. I whispered “Salam” (peace) into her ear, and at that moment, I knew that I was no longer alone. She was there for me—not just as a case manager, but as a friend, as someone who genuinely cared. She listened to me, understood my fears, and gave me the courage to face the unknown.

The support she gave me wasn’t just practical; it was emotional. She helped me believe in myself again, and she gave me the strength to keep going when everything seemed too hard. I realized that it wasn’t just about surviving in this new country—it was about thriving, about turning my dreams into reality, no matter how impossible it seemed at times.

And now, here I stand as a case manager at JFS, the very organization that gave me the lifeline I needed when I felt like I had nowhere to turn. I’m not just helping others navigate their new lives; I’m giving back the same love, care, and support that saved me. I’m showing others that, even when it feels like the world is against you, there is always hope. There is always someone who cares, someone who will fight for you, just as JFS fought for me.

I will forever be grateful for the hands that reached out to me when I was lost. I will never forget the day I met my case manager, the woman who became my hope, my friend, my guiding light. Thanks to JFS, I found my place in this world. I found my strength. And now, I am proud to say that I am part of a team that helps others find their way, just as I was helped.

I may have started as a client, but today, I stand before you as a case manager, someone who has been given the chance to change lives to give others the hope I once needed. And every day, I remember that smile, that hug, and the place that made me believe again that anything is possible.