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US: Iraqi Kurdish woman fulfills dream of
graduating college
6.5.2007
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May 6, 2007
ADAMS COUNTY, US, -- When Gulala
Abdullah Aziz was growing up, she never knew if she
would survive until the end of the day.
She lived in Kurdistan in (northern Iraq) at a time
when war and Saddam Hussein terrorized her family.
"Living in there, it was like living in hell," said
Aziz. "Every day in my life, I thank God that I am
here."
Aziz says her family was in constant danger from the
soldiers of Hussein. |
Gulala Abdullah Aziz says she is now a different
person in pursuit of the American dream. |
"Having my brother, one of the fighters against
Saddam, it was especially difficult for my family,"
she said. "(I've) been through a time when I
couldn't sleep even in my own house, I had to run."
Aziz says one time she and her sister had to escape
her hometown for three days without food or water.
"I (saw) kids dying in front of my face," she said.
The fighting and the oppression kept her from
fulfilling her goal of getting a college degree.
"It was always, always (the) biggest dream for me to
finish my school," she said.
In 1996, Aziz was able to escape Iraq. She
eventually ended up in Colorado with a family who
sponsored her so she can stay in America. For the
past two years, she worked hard to earn her degree
while raising three kids. She can't believe her
graduation day has finally come.
"(Sometimes) I think about it, I'm speechless," said
Aziz.
Plus, she did it all while her husband, also a Kurd,
went back to Iraq with the U.S. Army. He is now back
there working as a translator.
"I've always had like a high respect for my mom,"
said Aween Aziz, her 14-year-old daughter.
"She's always taught me to be like very strong as an
independent woman and always education comes first."
Gulala Abdullah Aziz says she is now a different
person in pursuit of the American dream.
"I did it, you know," she said. "Living in a house
like this, with my kids and I'm having a degree that
I could never have."
She now has plans to pursue her doctorate and she
wants to find a way to return to Iraq to help her
people and her family whom she had to leave behind.
"To be honest with you, I'm not gonna stop right
here," Aziz said. "I have (a) bigger dream."
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