Abdullah Alaawad's parents had a dream for their sons. It was a dream they would need to leave their native Iraq to make come true. "They told me and my two brothers to go to the United States and complete our education. There are a lot of opportunities here for good jobs that pay good money." And in 2014 at age 21, that's exactly what Abdullah did. After he completed high school in Iraq, he came to the U.S.. "It was a real challenge for me. I had to learn the language and make new friends."
By 2017 he was ready to become a student at Onondaga Community College. After extensive research he decided to pursue a degree in Computer Information Systems. "I found many stories about this major and I found videos on YouTube. Here at OCC they gave me good professors. They helped me and they pushed me to do well."
Two years after he began taking classes at OCC Alaawad was naturalized. "It was my dream to become an American citizen and feel all of the freedom you have in this country. That was a very nice day when I became a citizen!"
Alaawad is one of several students on the Unity Day committee who helped organize and present the campus-wide celebration on October 13. "It was a wonderful day. It's nice to meet people from different cultures. We were separate at one time and now we are together."
In December Alaawad will complete work toward his associate degree. He plans to find a job and continue his education as he pursues a bachelor's degree, but would prefer to stay at OCC if it was possible to do so. "This is a really cool school. I wish it was a four-year university. I feel like my home is at OCC. All of the people I met here and my best friends are here. We are a family at OCC."
As for his parents who urged him to come to America nearly a decade ago, they have joined him in Central New York and are enjoying his journey. "I'm proud of what I am accomplishing and I know they will be happy when they see me graduate."
