education
Syrian Success Story Hard-workingrefugee duo are celebratedonnational media WRITTEN BY HANNAN ADELY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN R . WEXLER
When she took the stage at her graduation from William Paterson University on May 31 , Racha Ahmad shared her remarkable story of fleeing war in Syria , finding asylum in the U . S . and working full time to support her family while earning exemplary grades .“ Iamliving testimony that if given just an ounce of opportunity , you can do anything ,” Ahmad , the undergraduate student speaker , said in her speech tothe class of 2023 . Her inspiring story did not stop there . Ahmad , 26 , of Wayne , graduated alongside her mother , Stani Hajbi , who went back to school to study accounting . Both were overjoyed , not just because of how their lives have changed , but also because , inthe crowd , Ahmad ’ s father was looking on . They had been apart for nine years until that month , when he finally secured a long-awaited visa to the U . S . in time for graduation . Not having seen her father for more than eight years , Ahmad says , it felt amazing to know he was there witnessing her and her mother asthey received their diplomas .
The mother and daughter both graduated cum laude , flipping their graduation tassels during the commencement ceremony atthe Prudential Center inNewark as members ofa class of 1,600 undergraduates . Gov . Phil Murphy served as commencement speaker ( another 900William Paterson students received doctoral and master ’ s degrees at aceremony on May 18 ).
Their experiences are inspirational , afact that wasn ’ t missed by news outlets around the globe . Two days after NorthJersey . com covered the duo , New York City TV station PIX11 did afeature onthem . Then news media in gulf countries such as Dubai and Lebanon picked up the narrative . After
PROUD GRADUATES Racha Ahmad and her mother , Stani Hajbi
12 BACK TOSCHOOL 2023 WAYNE MAGAZINE