Anoosha and Ahad were about to begin their last semester in medical school when they left Afghanistan with their family in late 2021. After arriving in Lincoln, Nebraska, they learned how difficult it would be to return to their planned careers as physicians in the United States. They were told that Lincoln Literacy may be able to help.
“Lincoln Literacy gave us confidence and hope to help us continue on our way,” said Anoosha and Ahad. “We wanted to find a job in the medical field. Lincoln Literacy helped us apply at Bryan Hospital, and we got jobs in the medical field where we are still working today.
We also wanted to go back to medical school, but we learned that we needed to have a record of education in the United States to start on our path back there. Lincoln Literacy helped us get classes so we could have that record of American education. We took a CNA class, then a phlebotomy class at Bryan College of Health Sciences. We also had support from a Lincoln Literacy tutor, Dr. Mike. He made sure we could understand everything in the classes and answered questions about what we should do next.”
Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU) worked with Lincoln Literacy to enroll Anoosha and Ahad. Thanks to a federal grant, Lincoln Literacy also helped them pay for some of their books and school fees. Once their FAFSA was completed, they were declared eligible for Pell Grants and received full tuition remission. Anoosha and Ahad, bolstered by their past education, were placed at the junior college level, enabling them to graduate much sooner.
Set to finish their pre-med studies by December 2024, Anoosha and Ahad’s future goal is to attend medical school in the United States.
“When we first arrived here, we were in a difficult situation. Now, we are nearly finished with our pre-med studies at NWU and will be able to take the MCAT and apply to attend medical school here in the United States. Lincoln Literacy was a hope for us. We love Lincoln and plan to live and work here for many years.”
