Due to current global circumstances following the COVID-19 pandemic, university attendance has stopped and learning shifted from in-person on campus to online at home. Aside from the adjustment issues, a major problem I faced was access, as I didn’t have a laptop or an internet connection at home to attend classes or even study. At first, I borrowed my friend’s laptop, but then Karam gave me a device of my own to use comfortably. This made all the difference in my education and in my outlook. 

Then one day, I received a call from my friend Duaa. Duaa is a high school student who was prepping for the YÖS college admissions exam. She was asking me how to withdraw her exam fee. Confused at the question, I asked her why she wanted to do such a thing. She said it was because learning and the exam itself were now going to be conducted online and she didn’t have a laptop or stable internet connection to be able to study and prep the way she would want to.

I really wanted to help Duaa. I knew exactly how frustrated and let down she was feeling because I was in that very position before her. But she had her mind set on her decision as she saw no possible solution. I explained the process to her, and she went through with it. She withdrew from the YÖS college acceptance exam for this year and in turn delayed her college journey. 

In the short period that followed, I learned about so many other students who were left in a similar vulnerable position because of COVID-19 and the shift to online education. It wasn’t fair, and I really wanted to do something to help these students out. I had this idea to speak with the director of children programs at the Red Crescent. Since courses were paused because of COVID-19, their computers weren’t being used. So I figured maybe we can borrow the center’s computers to allow the students to study for their test. At first, the director was on board and welcomed the idea, which was amazing. But then, for safety reasons and fearing the spread of the coronavirus, she had to refuse the idea. It was back to square one.

But I didn’t stop thinking of alternative solutions. I had a goal set— I was determined to provide assistance to students in order to help build the future of our generation, even if it was just one student. So I spoke with my friends to see if they would be okay with loaning their computers to some students during the exam period. The exam was an hour-and-a-half-long, and this was how long we would need their computers. Some of my friends said no, but I got five to say yes. That’s five computers! These computers helped five students take practice tests and the actual YÖS exam. 

I feel an obligation to help my generation excel. We all went through similar hardships first in Syria and then in the process of relocating to Turkey, a place that has a different educational system than the one we were used to back home. But I also feel this responsibility because of Karam. Karam supported me when I was lost, and so I have to help others the same way. Giving back through extreme generosity is always the answer, and it’s the only way that we can all grow as future leaders. 

-Ferhad
Karam Scholar, Future leader