Issa´s College Fundraiser
Hi, My name is Issa and and I am trying to raise enough money to go to college at the University of Rhode Island. I need to raise half of my goal for this fall semester. I hope you can help me. Any amount will get me closer. to my goal. Below, you can read my story.
I was born in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003. I lived with my family; my Mom, Dad and 7 brothers and sisters. Our house in the small village was made out of mud, thatch and trees. I worked in a market with my Mom at the age of 6. I did not go to school because I had to work in the market. When I turned 7 there was a genocide happening and kids were being taken away by rebels. Some children were being killed and others were being turned into child soldiers. Some parents were being killed and others were being raped. When the rebels came to my house taking things my Dad ran with me away from the house. All my siblings were separated. After a few minutes of running, soldiers came from behind us chasing me and my Dad. They shot my Dad in the leg and he dropped me. When he got up to push me along they shot him in the head and he died. I decided to get up and run but my right eye was injured from a puncture and I was bleeding but did not know why. I was in the jungle for about 3 days hiding. I was waiting for my Mom to come and get me. My Mom somehow found me inside a cave. I had not eaten and saw horrific happenings. I witnessed kids getting shot and being forced to kill their own friends and family. My Mom and 4 of us went to a refugee camp. The other siblings were lost in the jungle.
We lived in the refugee camp for a while. We had nothing, but we had enough to keep us alive after the genocide. The government gave us a house in Uganda, Kyangwali. We lived there and my Mom started her own garden and growing tomatoes. We would sell them in the market. I would wake up at 6am and stay at the market til 9:30pm. After the market we could finally eat dinner. My Mom got sick and could not take care of us or herself so the UNHCR had to make a decision to take care of us or bring my Mom to America to get the medicine she needed.
In 2014 we were one of the refugee families chosen to come to America.
We arrived in New York and we had an apartment ready for us in Worcester. I began school for the first time. I was in 6th grade at NCC in Worcester. English was very hard because I only spoke Swahili. I had to force myself to watch cartoons to learn how to speak english. It was a challenge. I went to an after school program called ACE, African Community Education. Which is where I got help to do all my homework and learn a few words in english. I began to help other kids as I learned. I moved on to University Park Campus School in Worcester, once I learned enough English.
I had great opportunities UPCS. I got to do dance after school and focused on academics to keep my grades and GPA high so I could go to college. I began running cross country and track for the school. I broke records on most of the courses I ran over the years. I went to States for track and field and ran the 1 mile. I came in 3rd place in the state. My junior year of cross country I became the number 1 cross country runner in Worcester, MA. I had to work very hard everyday on my classes and my running so I can get a scholarship to go to college. This year's cross country season was special to me. I had 2 amazing coaches, Coach Clark and Coach Joe. They were not just coaches but more like parents on the side. They helped me with homework, helped me with school and encouraged me to run my best. They chose me to be Captain of the Cross Country Team. I felt responsible to lead my team by encouraging and cheering on my teammates. I also helped coach and gave other teammates good advice to be a good runner and a good student in school.
After cross country season I transferred to Wachusett Regional High School in Holden Ma. to live with another family, the McLeans. I left my house because of a situation where I did not feel safe. Wachusett was a much bigger school than University Park Campus School. I walked in and never saw a school that big. The school was crowded and so many new faces. I soon met teachers that helped me learn and made a lot of new friends. I am currently part of the Wachusett Indoor Track Team. I have won many races for the team in the 600m the 4X400m relay and the 4X800m relay. I like being part of a big team and community at Wachusett. My goal after highschool is to go to a good college with strong academics so I can be the first kid in my family to go to college and be able to take care of my Mom and siblings.