Chasing Dreams: How FORA's college students are defining their futures

Moving Forward Highlights from FORA post-secondary students

Chasing Dreams How FORA’s college students are defining their futures

Their future is our future.

D

ear FORA Friends,

Perhaps the most important way to measure the contributions of a serviceoriented organization is how effectively its efforts translate into durable, broad-based community impact. Through this lens, it is important to understand that FORA’s work towards improving the elementary and secondary education outcomes of program participants is just one step on the broader journey of children towards adulthood.

So what comes next?

For some of our students, the answer is college. Although American high schools offer built-in assistance with the college application process, and FORA’s on-site teams help our students navigate this immediate challenge, a successful transition to campus life entails much more than simply getting admitted to a university.

Our network of dedicated volunteers engage with FORA high school graduates to ensure they can access the tools and resources they need to complete the transition to college.

We help with living arrangements, meal plan selection, class registration, insurance signups, and even day-one drop-offs. Once our students get to campus, we work with them to adjust their learning style and improve their academic discipline to meet the increased demands of undergraduate education.

FORA is a young organization, and many of our high school graduates are still in the midst of their college journeys. But early indications of their success are exciting and encouraging.

Here are their stories.

With hope and pride,

Kartika Sujdak

FORA Collegiate Opportunities Advisor

So Far...

8 6

FORA students are attending college in different cities across the U.S. and have accepted over

1.28 dollars in scholarships million and awards.

Here are all the locations where our students are studying!

Sh

ida h s am Hudson Valley Community College

O

ne of FORA’s original students, Shamshida, only began to consider pursuing college in her senior year of high school. “The most exciting thing was to continue my education,” she said.

Shamshida at her college graduation, May 2026.

According to Shamshida, FORA’s support made it easy to prepare for college, but when she arrived she felt scared and nervous. She noted that “In high school we have a teacher always around, but in college you have to figure out a lot of it by yourself.” Some of her favorite courses were her sociology, psychology, and computer science classes, where she received plenty of classroom support.

Shamshida remained dedicated to school despite the challenges. With a commute of over two hours both ways, she worked hard to keep up, taking classes in the summer and winter in addition to the normal fall and spring semesters. After giving birth to her first child during her second year of college, she switched to taking online classes.

This spring, Shamshida graduated with her Associates in Business, and has plans to pursue a bachelor's degree after taking a much needed vacation to visit family.

I feel very proud because I did it. Even with help, I was failing my first year. But after that, for the second year, I started passing the classes. Little by little I was able to figure it out.

Shamshida studying at FORA in 2021.

Asal

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

D

espite not considering college until coming to FORA, Asal is looking forward to her senior year at UIUC, where she is a double major in Psychology and Gender and Women’s Studies. According to Asal, “The most exciting thing about college is the freedom of it. Once I got to university I was able to explore myself and what I wanted to do in general.”

Asal meeting the President of National Association of the Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) at the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, May 2026.

In addition to taking courses across her majors, she has also found time to take some classes just for fun. Asal was able to take an ice skating course, which she tried for the first time and loved. She is also a student facilitator for the school’s First Year Consent and Relationship Education (FYCARE) workshops, helping advocate for sexual assault prevention on campus. For Asal, “It’s a great community to be in, and to be able to help out, especially on a college campus where these situations are more prone to happen.”

When she returns to campus for her final year this fall, she plans on moving into her first apartment with friends and is excited to start a new job at UIUC’s Women’s Resource Center.

One thing I’m really proud of is just getting through it. Growing up, I never really thought I was going to college. I didn’t think I was going to get past high school. I’m just glad I was able to come here and do the work. I definitely think this experience has changed the person I have become.

Asal and friends at a pumpkin patch.

Middlebury College

Soe

A

lthough he was certain he wanted to attend college, Soe said he felt nervous about making such a big decision. Soe originally wanted to attend school near Chicago to be close to his family, as moving further away reminded him of the changes that came with moving to the U.S. “At first I didn’t think I would be going to Middlebury. FORA helped me open up my vision for how I wanted to pursue higher education, and more opportunities opened up.”

Soe and classmates doings arts and crafts.

Soe is currently majoring in Computer Science and wants to pursue a career that involves building robots or products that he can use to help people. “My goal is to do something that serves others.”

On campus, Soe keeps himself quite busy! He serves as the Secretary and Events Coordinator for the Muslim Students Association. He is a member of a group that provides religious leadership funding. Soe also serves as president of the Badminton Club, where he has helped increase membership and funding.

Soe is excited to be in New York City this summer, where he has an internship at a councilwomen’s office doing outreach and community support work.

Soe returning from a skiing trip, a hobby he has picked up while at school.

Uba idah

Loyola University Chicago Ubaidah outside of FORA in 2023.

F

or Ubaidah, FORA’s support helped her find her footing when it came to the college application process. “As a first generation student, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know how to do the application or answer the questions they asked.”

To her, the most exciting part of college was getting to live on campus in the dorms. She has been enjoying her newfound independence, while still being close enough to visit home on the weekends and have a home cooked meal.

I’m really proud of being able to find myself this past year. Finding who I am beneath all the educational things that I have been doing. Taking time for myself outside of class means a lot to me.

Ubaidah in her high school graduation regalia with her mother, May 2025.

During her freshman year, she enjoyed her classes in ethics, philosophy, and environmental science, saying “I never knew learning about the environment could be that fun.” Looking forward to her next three years, Ubaidah hopes to take some courses in law and forensic related subjects, as well as potentially studying abroad.

sh e b a B

Bradley University

Babesh and friends celebrating Holi.

L

ike many high school graduates, Babesh was unsure of what he wanted to study. He started with a major in Civil Engineering, but soon realized he had a passion for hands-on construction, rather than design. Now, Babesh majors in Construction alongside a minor in Business, which he loves.

Babesh also works on campus doing parking enforcement and spends his free time hanging out with his friends. For him, the friendships he has made at school are the source of his favorite college memories.

Together they enjoy watching television shows and playing badminton, which Babesh hopes to start a club for next year.

“My favorite class so far has been Construction and Ethics because the professor worked in construction for many years. She teaches from experience rather than just from books,” Babesh said.

For Babesh, college has taught him to be independent, and he has learned to be excited about his newfound freedom after initially feeling the difficulties of moving away from home.

Babesh on the Bradley campus quad.

ah h i l a Suw University of Illinois Chicago

F

or Suwalihah, the most exciting thing about college has been the opportunity to meet new people, but she was happy to discover that she already had some community in this new chapter of her life. According to her, “I was actually able to reconnect with people I knew before college. I had no idea they were going to the same school, so it was a nice surprise to find out there were people here that I knew a little bit already.”

Having just completed her first year of college, she favored her Biology courses, expressing that she “loves being in the lab.”

Suwalihah is currently studying Pre-Med, with the hopes of going into the healthcare field and specializing in midwifery or sonography and looks forward to doing clinical work in her remaining years of college. She also hopes to add a minor in photography and is working on saving up to buy her own camera.

A self portrait Suwalihah drew for her high school graduation, May 2025.

Despite feeling well prepared to transition into college, when Suwalihah arrived at school she said, “I was very much lost because you just go straight into school stuff.

First semester I was so focused on my grades that I didn’t really enjoy my time, but in the second semester I was able to spend more time with my friends and do things outside of class. I learned how to balance both things, and I got even better grades. I’m really grateful for that.”

e o M Grinnell College

A Moe with FORA staff and community members at her graduation, June 2026.

M

oe has been a FORA student since 2021. She graduated high school this spring and is preparing to attend Grinnell College in the coming fall, where she plans to major in Engineering.

Moe explored her interest in engineering through FORA’s VEX Robotics program, where she built four robots and won two prestigious judges awards.

fter three years at FORA, Bilal graduated from high school this spring and is headed to Arrupe College.

At Arrupe, Bilal will continue taking English language courses. After completing two years, he plans to transfer into Loyola’s four-year bachelor’s program.

Bilal’s dream is to study Computer Science, and he hopes to take some courses in engineering as well.

He was also a participant in FORA’s VEX Robotics Program, and this summer he will help lead FORA’s robotics sessions.

Despite feeling sad to leave her current community and robotics team, she reports that “I am hoping to join similar activities when I go to college.”

l a l i B Arrupe College

Bilal with FORA staff members at his graduation, June 2026.

Be a part of their

futures.

Volunteer Become a tutor and help our students pursue their dreams.

Scan here to apply!

Donate Make a gift and help make their futures possible.

Please contact Rebecca Clendenen (Rebeccac@refugee fora.org) with any questions!

Together, we are...

Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America.

6435 N. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60645 (312) 685-2655 | info@refugeefora.org

www.refugeefora.org