New culture, new language, no problem for Ferris High graduate

This spring, Ferris High School senior Rawia Ahmed stood in front of about 1,000 educators gathered at the Spokane Convention Center and helped introduce her teacher, who was being recognized for an award. She and two others gave a speech honoring Mandy Manning, who directs the Newcomer Center at Ferris.

Manning said the confident student gave the speech like it was no big deal. But it was a big deal: Just four years ago, Ahmed, a refugee, did not know English.

Four years ago is when Ahmed took her first plane ride, arriving in Spokane with her parents, brother and sisters. Before that, the family had lived in Egypt for nine years after fleeing their native Sudan. Ahmed was so young when they left Sudan that she can’t remember much about it.

While the family was in Egypt, Ahmed said, “We were always thinking about where are we going to go.” They did not know what country they would relocate to, as an organization would decide that. Ahmed said her family had lots of questions, including what their new country would look like, but they couldn’t do anything except wait.

When they finally arrived in their permanent country in summer 2013, Ahmed found the transition difficult.

“I was very stressed out because it’s a new culture, new people and new language,” said Ahmed, a native Arabic speaker.

That September, Ahmed enrolled at the Newcomer Center at Ferris, where all high-schoolers in the district who need to learn English begin.

At first, Ahmed was nervous and shy at school. She felt people’s eyes were on her because she was new and from another country. But as she learned English, she developed more confidence.

Manning, the Newcomer Center director, said Ahmed was a fast learner.

“I could tell right away that she was super eager to learn and that she was very bright,” Manning said.

Manning said Ahmed became a leader in the classroom and would help other students who weren’t progressing as fast.

After a semester at the Newcomer Center, Ahmed enrolled in English Language Development classes at Ferris.

She reached the highest ELD level within three years and was in a regular English class this year. She will be graduating Ferris after four years with a 3.3 grade-point average.

Amanda Mills, one of Ahmed’s ELD teachers, explained that ELD students must meet the same graduation requirements as general American students, so it often takes five or six years for them to graduate.

“That’s why it’s pretty incredible that she’s finished and graduating in four years,” Mills said.

Mills said Ahmed has also been involved in a lot of activities and taken on leadership roles.

Ahmed has given several presentations at Ferris and in the community about the experience of refugees. Ahmed said since presenting to fellow students, she feels they have more understanding of refugees – plus she made more American friends.

Now that Ahmed has gotten to know people, she said she is very happy she ended up at Ferris. She is especially thankful for her teachers’ love and support.

“I love them so much,” she said.

Mills said many ELD students see the opportunity given to them for an education and take advantage of it to the fullest, and that’s exactly what Ahmed has done.

Manning said Ahmed is kind, focused and wants to learn so she can achieve her goals.

Ahmed’s goal is to become a lawyer, and Manning said she has no doubt it will happen.

Ahmed will take a step toward her goal this fall, when she will become a new student once again, this time at Eastern Washington University.