As I held the Horizons Academy acceptance letter in my hands for the first time, it felt as though I was holding a golden ticket to a better life than the one that I was currently living in Gaza. The acceptance letter was a validation of my dreams—a testament to their belief in my aspirations, and in my potential to achieve them. Horizons Academy’s commitment to support me in the road that was ahead filled me with deep appreciation and a newfound hope for the future.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans. October 2023 brought with it the darkest days of my life. Even in the earliest stages of the war, I found myself ripped away from my studies, extracurricular activities, and most heartbreakingly, precious loved ones. My sole aspiration became surviving the war, pushing my dreams of studying astrophysics to the distant horizon. Five months later, fortune smiled upon me with a chance to relocate to Egypt. However, amidst the unfamiliar sights and sounds, the full impact of the loss hit me; I felt profoundly lost.
Despite all the challenges, Horizons Academy's support remained constant, and through them, I discovered a beacon of hope – St. Margaret's boarding school in British Columbia, Canada. This opportunity is more than a new chapter; it's a continuation—a chance to pick up where I left off. It's a chance to chase the stars under the same sky from which the bombs that devastated my life fell. At St. Margaret's, I can resume my high school studies, represent my country, and forge friendships that bridge continents. It's a place to not only excel academically but also grow as a person, forever honoring the memory of those I lost.
My immense gratitude goes to Horizons Academy, whose invaluable support during that time fostered my resilience and prepared me to flourish in this exciting new chapter of my life. Horizons Academy didn't just see me as a student; they saw a dreamer, a fighter, and they gave me the tools to keep fighting for that dream. Most importantly, however, Horizons has, once again, given me a golden ticket—a ticket to rewrite the future that would have awaited in Gaza.
