Prior to her current work as a graduate student at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Grace Manning ’21 spent two years working in Rwanda with Afghan refugee girls at the School of Leadership Afghanistan. Manning worked with the author of this piece, a young woman living in northern Afghanistan, whose education was cut short due to the resurgence of the Taliban in 2021. The pair worked together to research colleges, and the young woman made Holy Cross her first choice when applying to schools last year. She was admitted early decision, and the college provided her with the financial support to make her dreams of college a reality. However, the young woman’s visa appointment was canceled over the summer. As a result, the young woman had to defer her enrollment as a member of the class of 2029. Through Manning, her mentor, she submitted a reflection on the experience. We thought it was very important to share this woman's story with our audience, but withheld the young woman's name, as well as details of her experience, to protect her identity.
From the Judges
This raw and emotional piece pulled at our heart strings by sharing a young woman’s personal experiences. Readers can relate to and learn from this powerful voice that deserves to be heard.
