To me, home will always be where I was born: Palmyra, Homs, the ancient city whose stories date back generations before me. 

I might’ve only been 11 years old when I left Palmyra, but I still carry my own stories from the place I was born and the place where I will always belong. 

I remember the day when we had to rush outside our house with nothing but the clothes on our backs to look for a safer place. The shelling was unbearable, but the promise was to return. 

From Palmyra, we took a windowless bus to Raqqa where our cousins lived. We stayed with them for six months before we realized there was no going back. My family made the decision to cross the border to Turkey. I remember sitting in a van, unaware of what was happening. We got caught the first time we tried to cross the border, but that did not stop us from trying again. We arrived in Turkey in 2017. 

My two older sisters, two younger brothers, and I were all in shock. When we arrived at our cousins’ place in Turkey, we slept for three days straight, resting from the long journey. 

Once we were settled, we rented our own place in Reyhanli, Turkey. At that point, I had missed a whole year of school. Finally, I was registered in a Syrian school where it was very hard to adjust. Yes, it was a Syrian school. And yes, they were Syrian students. But it took me two full months to settle and focus. 

I attended there until 10th grade when I switched to a Turkish school. Another journey started. I took Turkish courses because I found it difficult to adjust. To be honest, math, science, and chemistry were all easy for me. They were things I had already learned. The challenge was in history, geography, and any other classes that required memorization. I made a lot of Turkish friends because I knew that the only way to learn is to practice. It was also a good way to integrate into the community. 

In 2018, I was introduced to Karam House, a community space where Syrian refugees come together to learn, grow, and bond. It was the perfect place for someone like me, someone who loves inventing new things. 

Ever since I was six, I have brought electronics home, taken them apart, and put them back together to learn how they function. At Karam, I was able to expand my knowledge about electronics and inventions through the studios I took and am still taking. 

So far, I’ve attended 15 studios, and Karam only requires eight studios to graduate. Even the mentors told me to slow down, but I love learning new skills and offering others the knowledge I gained. 

I even started my own Youtube channel called Ahmad’s World, where I store all of the inventions I create. I wanted a safe place to document everything I’ve learned and to hopefully teach and inspire others to do the same. 

It’s been a while since I recorded and uploaded videos because I am focusing on studying for the YOS exam and applying to college. My dream is to become an astronaut. God willing, I will study Aviation Engineering and make it to space. 

My advice to the youth who are going through similar challenges and experiences as I am is as follows: I know we were forced to leave our homes, but the strongest weapon we can carry is education. So focus on what you can do for your future, learn as many skills as you can, and spread this knowledge to others.