(4/4) I was still only able to communicate in English a bit, just enough to say what I wanted, so I started at an English only school. On my first day, I felt awesome – my dream of going to school had come true. I was actually sitting in a chair and listening to a teacher. After 6 months, they said they were going to put me in year 10. Then I found out Mohsin was in Sydney, so I moved down to Sydney to go to school with him at Holroyd High. Sometimes it was frustrating and stressful, especially when exams were coming up, because I was still learning English, but it was a great school and they provided me with a lot of support. In year 12, I was selected as the vice school captain.
At the same time, I worked as a youth ambassador for an organisation called Chilout – children out of detention. As a result, I was invited to The United Nations in Geneva as a representative of child rights. That was a great week. I had to present to about 500 people, and I was very nervous beforehand, but once I got on the stage I forgot my nervousness completely. I also recently won a Young Citizen of the Year award for being involved in a fundraising event for asylum seekers where we managed to raise around $7000. I was very pleased when I won.
Last year, I completed my Diploma in Accounting, and I have just received an offer from the Australian National University to do a Bachelor of Commerce. A lot of friends have said I should go into politics, but I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do! My dream is to complete university and to live in a peaceful place, to work hard, and to actively contribute to the Australian community.
It was difficult to come to Australia when I was 14 without my parents, and without any support. I left because of a war without end, and the ongoing persecution of my people. I just wanted a safer and better life.
Bashir
Afghanistan
Arrived 2010
#refugees #migrants #migration #Australia #Australianstories
What a wonderful story and a wonderful man. I’m glad it has worked out well for him. I hope some of those poor children in Nauru get the same opportunities.
I am so glad you feel you’ve found a better life here – one where you can go to school and study and do the things we take for granted. I would love to know what happened to your younger siblings. I hope they can join you some day.
Amazing achievements Bashir, you’ve been through so much and you appreciate the chances you have strived for. Good luck with your uni. You will certainly be a great advocate for any community.
You’ve achieved more in the short amount of time you’ve been in Australia than most of the people who were born here! Congratulations!
Bashir you are not just a new human of Australia you are one of the best. Never giving up on our dreams no matter how hard the journey is the most courageous act. Love and warmth to you and your brothers
Bashir, you have the same dream I have: ‘to live in a peaceful place, to work hard and actively contribute to the Australian community’. So glad you’re achieving your dream. I pray your siblings are safe and can be with you soon.
This is why we should be opening our doors and our hearts. Not putting children and babies in detention centres.
Australia is lucky to have you. What a wonderful story to wake up to. Makes me very hopeful for the future
You are an amazing man!!! Well done, I am sure you will be successful at anything you put your mind to. I am so pleased that Australia is now your home xxx
Thank you Bashir for using your achievements to help bring Peace an kindness for others. We still have a long way to go to achieve greatness like you.
Your story makes my heart sing. I am so grateful that you are able to realise your potential and make a difference for others who are following in your footsteps. I will hold good thoughts for you.
Congratulations Bashir! You will absolutely love ANU. I am an ANU alumni and loved my time there. You are a truly inspirational human xx
Hi Bashir – I’m in Canberra. When you come to ANU please look me up. I would love to invite you over for some home cooked meals and family warmth. There are many of us in this city who don’t have family here, so we make our own with friends. It’s a beautiful place to live.
Congratulations on all your achievements! Your determination and strengths got you to where you see today. I hope your family are okay!
I have met many refugees. The common thread is that they want to make the best of the second change offered them. All that I have met have studied hard and strived for a better life and to contribute positively to their communities. They tell stories of horror, risk, bravery and hope. I have also worked in employment services and met many young Australians who have no such motivation and take opportunity for granted. They choose not to participate or contribute. Such a shame that we cannot see how lucky we are. People are risking their lives to have what we have.
I had the pleasure of listening to Bashir speak about his experiences at the Public Education Foundation’s awards the year before last. There was not a dry eye in the room, nor a single person who walked out unimpressed by this remarkable young man. I’m so pleased to hear, Bashir, that you’re getting closer to realising your ambition of becoming an accountant!
An amazing journey hopefully the rest of his life will continue as he wishes! It is people like him who want to change their lives, assimilate and embrace our way of live, but also enjoy showing us their culture who we welcome with open arms. Those who bring their anger and hate with them should not expect the privilege of staying. It is a privilege to live here, been born here – unfortunately many of us take it for granted and take as much out of our society as they can grab without putting in any effort to support it! Love Australia and everything about- we are an extremely lucky country 🙂
Wow another inspiring story from a strong-willed Hazara has me crying with happiness, but also with frustration. I teach English in a New Arrivals program and some of my students were in detention for over a year. Like you Bashir, they were hungry for knowledge and were able to find other young people to build their English. So, when they enrolled in school and had an initial assessment they already knew the alphabet, letter sounds and even could read and write whole words. Because of their cognitive stage of learning, children can be immersed in the language and exit into mainstream school near-fluent English speakers. But, people don’t realise how hard it is to learn English (or any language for that matter) in your mid-late teens or as an adult. So, congratulations on working so hard in high school and attaining your diploma and Young Citizen award. I will be sharing this story with some of my students from Iraq and Syria, who have a lot of anxiety over not being successful when they go to high school. Stories like these are important to show new migrant students that even though their goals seem so far from reach, they ARE possible with hard work, patience, positive attitude and support. Thank you for sharing your experience. 🙂
Thankyou for sharing your story and I wish you the best for a peaceful, fulfilled life in Australia.
Good on you Bashir. My family were Vietnamese refugees. I was lucky to be born here 6 weeks after arrival. I have two kids & I am bringing them up appreciate living in a country of peace & prosperity, to work hard & contribute to Australia.
Bashir what a wonderful outlook u have on education and living in your new country! Welcome, I hope u have many amazing years living peacefully in Australia!????
Lovely to see this story here. I met Bashir at a Sydney Alliance Table Talk hosted at our school last year. Truly a beautiful man opening his heart to share his story. Tania Chahoud Annie Lord
You sound so dedicated and truly excited by the future and what it will bring! We are lucky to have you in Aus ???????? I hope our country can help you realise your dreams and thank you for telling your story! Best of luck ????????
Coming to a new country as an unaccompanied minor is a massive challenge for a young person to settle in but you managed to tackle the challenges pretty well and continued to progress by focusing on education and support venerable. You sound very committed to fulfilling your dreams as unfortunately our own country does not allow us to reach our potentials and this amazing Australia does so good on ya for doing so well. You are an afghan and be proud of your roots coz other wise u wouldn’t have done so well without the struggle you been through in the past. Best of luck.
Thank you for being you and for coming to Australiia – our country is so much better off having yourself and others like you. You have touched my heart and that of many others. I am proud that you are here achieving all that you have and still will. Thank you!