From Iraq to Idaho: Student shares her story of resilience and hope | Opinion

My story begins in a small village in Sinjar, northern Iraq. I was born in 2001 into the Yazidi community, a small ethnic and religious minority with a long history but an uncertain future. Growing up, my world was small. I knew only a few dozen people, mostly family, cousins, and neighbors. Yet even as a child, I dreamed far beyond my village. I wanted to create opportunities for my community and make a difference in people’s lives. Many people laughed at those dreams. They told me I was thinking too big. But I never stopped believing that one day I would find a way.

Everything changed on Aug. 3, 2014.

I woke up to the sounds of gunfire, explosions and fear. ISIS attacked Sinjar, committing genocide against the Yazidi people. Thousands of men were murdered, thousands of women and children were kidnapped and enslaved, and entire communities were destroyed. Families were forced to flee with nothing but hope for survival. My family was among the fortunate ones who escaped, but like hundreds of thousands of other Yazidis, we lost our home and became internally displaced persons.

Life in the displacement camps became my new reality.

The camps were defined by harsh winters, unbearable summers, shortages of food, limited access to clean water and uncertainty about the future. We relied almost entirely on humanitarian aid. Those years were some of the hardest of my life, but they also shaped the person I would become. Instead of allowing those circumstances to define me, they strengthened my resilience.

While living in the camps, I constantly asked myself one question: How can I change this, not only for myself, but for others?

That question became my motivation every single day. I filled notebooks with ideas, goals, and dreams. I volunteered whenever possible, attended workshops, participated in community activities and searched for every opportunity to learn. Education became more than a goal. It became my path toward rebuilding my future.

After Sinjar was liberated, my family returned home to rebuild what had been destroyed. Although life remained difficult, my determination only grew stronger.

Then I discovered an opportunity that changed everything.

A Yazidi graduate of the United World Colleges organized a summer program for Yazidi students interested in studying abroad. I committed myself completely to that opportunity. After a competitive selection process, I was awarded a full scholarship to attend UWC Robert Bosch College in Germany, where I completed the international baccalaureate diploma program.

Moving from a small village in northern Iraq to one of the world’s leading international schools transformed my life. At UWC, I lived and learned alongside students from around the globe. I discovered new cultures, challenged my perspectives and realized that leadership is not about where you come from; it is about what you choose to do with your experiences. UWC taught me to turn adversity into action and gave me the confidence to believe that my voice mattered.

Today, I am a senior at the College of Idaho, where I am majoring in business with a specialization in marketing and theatre. My education has given me opportunities I once thought were impossible.

Beyond the classroom, I have dedicated myself to creating opportunities for others through leadership, service and storytelling. I work in social media marketing for the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Engagement, helping connect students with resources, internships and opportunities that can shape their futures. I have served in leadership roles within the International Student Organization and continue to advocate for students from diverse backgrounds.

Every step of my journey has reinforced one belief: Our circumstances do not determine our future.

I often think about the little girl who grew up in a village where people doubted her dreams. She could never have imagined studying in Germany through UWC or earning a college education in the United States. Yet every challenge, from surviving genocide to living in displacement camps, from rebuilding my life to crossing continents, has become part of a much larger story.

My story is not simply one of survival. It is a story of resilience, education and hope. It is proof that even in the darkest moments, opportunity can change a life.

I carry my community with me wherever I go, and everything I accomplish is driven by one purpose: to create opportunities for others, amplify the voices of those who have been silenced and help build a future where no child is told their dreams are too big.

Inas Kali is a senior at the College of Idaho, where she is studying business with a specialization in marketing and theatre.