My Friend and Hero from Rainier Beach High School: Hussein Mohamed Abshir

1.     Tell us a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

Living in America is difficult for new immigrants, but it has not been nearly as hard as getting here. I came from Somalia, a country where gunfire and violence are not unfamiliar to people. When one tribe’s greed and lust for power corrupted the government, everything fell apart, politically and economically.

With the onset of civil war, my mother decided to flee with the children. Traveling with three children and being a female made it a difficult voyage. We were in a group of about forty families fleeing the violence. We survived on little more than water until we were able to reach villages on our path. All the males including my father where told to remain behind to fight the attackers, thus giving us a presumed safe passage. However without males in our party, many of the villagers in our path took advantage of us—robbing us and raping the women.

It took us eight months to get into a refugee camp in Uganda, a country 600 miles away from home. We settled in and stayed for five years. My father came every three months to bring money. Fighting in the war he was wounded in the right hand and left leg. Although these experiences happened when I was too young to remember, the war profoundly changed my mom and dad. When we finally received the chance to immigrate to the United States, I remember saying "why are you crying mommy, are you sad?" and she said, "I am so happy, so happy." We arrived at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with no money or belongings but something much more valuable, a chance to survive.

Harrisburg was not as welcoming as we expected. A new country and language was more than we could handle.  My mother barely left the house because she wore a headscarf, which gathered her more than a fair share of looks that made her feel self-conscious. Unable to speak English, my father often left at sunrise to find a job. Unsuccessful and his pride hurting, my father had no way to feed his family. Thankfully the government stepped in and gave us welfare. With food stamps we were able to buy food. What we didn’t have or got was soap to wash clothes or furniture to sit. Those where luxuries we couldn’t afford so my mom begged the neighbors. Then our family in Seattle found out that we had made it to the US. They helped us get to Seattle where we could attend school and start our lives over.

 So few in this world have a chance of attaining a better life; this is what gives me my unrelenting drive and focus to succeed. This experience has made me ambitious and determined, not letting obstacles get in my way of a college education and a fulfilling career. What I truly want to do with my education is someday go back to my nation, help rebuild it, and ultimately give my people the same sort of opportunities that I have had. I know deep within my heart that every achievement of mine is a step in the advancement of rehabilitating Somalia. In moments in which I falter or deviate from my path, all I have to do is think of my people and that rejuvenates me and puts me back on course. 

I am proud of my heritage and where I come from. Coming to America has taught me that people come from different backgrounds and all walks of life, but they all have gone through some sort of great challenge in their life. What shapes you or makes you who you are is how you learn from your experiences or what you have done to overcome your obstacles. If you really want to better your life or situation, you have to sweat a little. That is why I have so much respect for immigrants who come into this country just like me who want a better future.

This experience has also made me respect women a great deal. Seeing my mother escape a war, survive a refugee camp, and make it to the United States all with nine kids riding on her the whole time taught me that if my mother could do that, then anyone can overcome any hardship.

I will always be motivated by my experience and committed to helping those people who are struggling in this world.