23-year-old Nadia reflects on what it meant to be a first-generation college graduate as a daughter of Sudanese refugees.

The day that I walked the stage for my college graduation ceremony in May, I was in disbelief, and in denial that I had made it. It was a journey that took my entire life to achieve.

On the Sunday of commencement, my family and close friends joined to celebrate, travelling across various states to stand alongside me, including an esteemed leader.

A few days before, I was feeling mixed emotions. On one side worried about the whereabouts of my family who were scattered across the region of Sudan — as the civil war continued — and on the other, whether or not my blue nail polish would match my ceremony dress.

My story begins in a small town in central Darfur and later in a small region outside of Khartoum, in Mayo City, where a small population of diverse ethnicities, tribes, and international communities reside. It is where I spent my earliest years after the conflict in Darfur began — which primarily targeted the predominantly indigenous ethnicities of the western Sudan.

Due to the lack of responsiveness from the international community in the mid-2000s to mitigate the violence, Egypt became our next home.

I remember coming to the United States wondering what happened to those we left behind and why they could not live with us and it dawned upon me as a child that the odds would be stacked against me for a long time to come.

In 2003, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) or “Janjaweed,” a Sudan state-sponsored militant group, began a campaign of attacks against those who looked like me and claimed any part of my native heritage or identity. This would later be classified as genocide by The International Criminal Court.

Parallel to Sudan’s current violence, hospitals were stripped of resources, university students' degrees were revoked and children were made to flee their homes, putting the well-being of the region at stake.

Last year, a civil war began in Sudan between two prominent military generals that forced millions to evacuate the country. Tens of thousands lost their lives, families separated, and massacres became commonplace. Education was disrupted for millions of students across the country, especially for girls who already face many challenges in attending and completing school.

Witnessing the situation back home reminded me of the importance of not only education but also representing the indigenous communities of Sudan and all across the world by bringing awareness to what is happening.

Early on, I recognised the uniqueness of my story and journey to higher education: the daughter of immigrant parents (former refugees) from Sudan, who not only escaped ethnic violence but continued to advocate for education across the world.

A few years back something interesting happened when I discovered tech as a way for me to combine my varying interests. It was when I attended the World Bank Summit, where I was the youngest invitee, and the only teenager in a conference meant for advanced career professionals. I learned for the first time what technology is and what it can do for international development, which eventually brought me back to Sudan and what I could do for my country.

Today, I celebrate the fact that I am the first woman in my family to hold a Bachelor’s degree. It serves as a reminder of my achievements and of what others can do.

I walked across the stage despite the civil war in Sudan in May 2023 and held my head high knowing I was one of the few women in my rigorous program with a degree and one of the rare cases of a college student finishing with the circumstances I had.

As of a few months ago, I was fortunate enough to begin working in my dream job, and I encourage those who believe in themselves to keep striving forward. It seems impossible until you cross the finish line.

My dream is to see young women in Sudan and across the world getting an education and the same opportunity that I had. They deserve to learn about all the fascinating things in the world and to also get the chance to empower their communities and families.

Inspired by the young women in my community, I graduated college. No matter where you are in your journey, the world needs girls like us.

Nadia M.

(she/her) is a college graduate with a background in policy. She is originally from Sudan and currently 22 years old at the time of this publication, residing in the United States. Her interests are in women’s rights, global development, and social justice.