On War:

I think it’s extremely important that people of Tucson should know how war affects people’s lives. It’s something easy to begin and hard to solve. It’s devastating if we look over the refugees who emigrated from their countries to the United States. War causes starvation and makes people lose their homes and many lose their lives. Some people think war is a way of solving problems. I ensure you that is incorrect. War commonly happens in Africa and many regions like Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. For instance, in Africa, if something happens accidentally to a tribe or neighboring country, many do not have any other choice but causing violence because that is what they know. Another thing is that many people don’t know how to talk to people or how to think of solving a problem. We can see some examples of this between Iraq and the United States where thousands have lost their lives. I believe we should understand how awful war is. Then we must give support and respect to the immigrants and help the countries at war.

Autobiographical Writing:

Life in the Past

This is my life in the past. I was born along the border of Kenya and Uganda. My mom used to be a business women traveling around the country. After I was born, I lived with my grandmother in a village in Uganda until I was 5 years old. My aunt took me to Nairobi, the capitol of Kenya, were my dad is from. I went to school, graduating from middle school. Later my parents were having problems paying for my high school fees. Due to supporting my elders and my cousins, they did not have enough money for all of us.

My mom was in Sudan and she was caught by the rebels when the war started. She was really lucky, rescued with other prisoners by the south Sudan military and taken to the Red Cross Agency. A week later, they were brought to the refugee camp in Kenya. For me, I was helping my aunt at her hotel trying to make some money to go back to school. I stayed there almost three years without going to school. Although I was not going to school, I was saving some money for me to go back to school. A couple of months later, my dad sent some money for our school fees. He also wrote a letter about mom’s capture: that she was in the camp, she was doing well, and she would be visiting us soon.

I was so happy, not just for the school fee dad sent, but also for my mom’s life because she is everything a person ever needs in life. After two weeks, when my elder brothers and cousins got their fees, I was taken to boarding school. I started my life at the school trying to be a great student because the boarding schools in Africa are always for the students who don’t listen to their parents and those who do not want to learn. Eventually, things did not work out as I wanted. I started being rude in school, I did not do my work, and I fought every single day.

My first semester, I didn’t do well but I passed four of my classes and I got Ds for the rest of my classes. My parents were so disappointed. Second semester, I worked hard not to disappoint them. I passed all of my classes. On visiting day, my mom came from the camp. I was out for holidays, but everyone was very happy to see mom. We asked her a lot of questions about how she survived and how she was caught. She explained everything including how people were killed, and how people survive in the camp. The best thing she said about the camp was that school in the camp is free. She said we should come with her to the camp to study. She really wanted to help people in the camp and continue with her business.

I left school in Nairobi due to school fees, starting my new life in the refugee camp. I started going to school, but life was a waste. I dropped out of school because we did not have enough teachers and there wasn’t very good teaching. Seeing the life in camp was difficult. I started doing business and making some money to support my family. I started working with youth and people from abroad; I also volunteered working with the United Nations. I was really helping and learning, although I was not going to school. I was inspired by my hard work to go back to school. I went back and I completed my sophomore and junior years in the camp. Before I started my senior year, I was on my way to the U.S.

Standing Life (My Present)

It always shows a change coming
It gives signals of a life flashing
It shows hope and hard work
It shows the priority of life ahead

A space between outer and inner doors never collapses
A space is like a road to a new life
A space is like a chance to develop knowledge
A space is like getting a life of freedom

Never take chances in life
You can hate life
Life never hates
Take life simply

Show faith
Show respect and hard work
Be who you are
Never back down

Who Will I Be in the Future?

Working with UNHCR agency, traveling around the world, studying politics, all are excellent jobs. UNHCR agency is similar to politics; the agency is worldwide. They provide support to countries at war. The agency workers are known as peace keepers. They bring peace to the countries with war. They travel around the world to help countries by providing resources.

In this world, we have so many career options, but for me the aforementioned are my most interesting career choices for the future. It is extremely important that everything you choose to do in the future you work hard to achieve. I choose this career because I volunteered with UNHCR agency in Kenya for almost three years, helping people serve food to the communities and keeping them in good health. I have a little bit of experience with the work and I enjoyed the role that I played. What I really like about the UNHCR agency is that their workers are peace keepers. They support countries with war. They provide resources to the countries with war, and they also travel around the world to support people who lost their homes.

I admire this career to help people just as the UNHCR agency is doing. I have been in the same situation where I needed help, as others need it now. I’m trying to achieve these goals to work as a UNHCR worker to provide the help needed worldwide and use my experience to help others.

Traveling around the world is really important to me because I always dream of seeing different continents. That way I can get ideas and experience to help people with a problem. I love solving problems. I have a lot of experience with this, having settled problems between my younger sister and my mom. I got involved solving their problems which made me feel like a counselor. It also made me experience politics, which I don’t love but which I like reading about and discussing.

I believe having options and dreams is extremely important. If you’re helping build homes or volunteering, this is all part of making your dreams a reality. I’m doing my part to achieve my goal. I did not know that the things I did in my past would be so important to my future. Eventually I’m hoping to achieve my goals. I never had good education before because school fees were high for school in Africa. Having an opportunity like the one I have now is really important. I understand that some people are really in need of this opportunity. If I don’t take it seriously, I will never have a chance like this again. And I’m saying this to all my peers. I’m really grateful and thanking God for the opportunity I have now.