From Kabul to Cardiology: How One Student's Journey is Just Beginning

Marwa remembers one question that seemed to follow her everywhere in her early years at South High School: What do you want to become? 

At first, she didn’t have an answer. Everything felt so new—the country, the language, even the way people moved through daily life. The question itself felt overwhelming, and the future seemed uncertain. Yet it kept coming, from teachers, counselors and the world around her. Over time, Marwa realized she needed to reflect more deeply on her future so she could find an answer for herself as much as for others. 

Today, that answer is clear: she wants to become a cardiologist. 

This career goal didn’t appear overnight. It took shape slowly, built from memories of growing up in Afghanistan, the hurdles she faced when her family arrived in Minnesota, the encouragement of South High teachers, the inspiration of healthcare professionals, and the steady guidance of her Achieve Career and College Center coordinators, who helped her turn a dream into a plan. 

A New Beginning 

Moving to a new country is one of the hardest things a young person can do. For Marwa, it meant leaving behind everything familiar and starting over. There were moments, she says, when it felt like everything had been taken away, and she was beginning again from scratch. 

But Marwa made a decision early on: she was not going to stay in that feeling. "Instead of letting those challenges define me, I pushed myself to adapt and rebuild," Marwa says. “Being surrounded by people who value education helped me find direction again and reminded me what I was capable of.”   

Growing up in Afghan culture gave Marwa a strong foundation. From a young age, she was taught to respect her elders, listen carefully and learn from the experiences of those who came before her. Those values didn't disappear when she left her country. They traveled with her, and they continued to shape the kind of student and person she was becoming. 

When she arrived at South High School in ninth grade, it took time to get used to everything. But she found a community there that made a difference. Her English teachers, especially, inspired her and encouraged her to speak up, find her voice and trust that she belonged there.  

"I've had a very positive experience with everyone at my high school," Marwa says. "I truly appreciate how supportive everyone has been.”  

Finding Her Direction 

Marwa started to think seriously about her future in ninth and tenth grades. She had always felt drawn to helping others, especially children. For a while, she thought she might become a psychologist, working with kids to help them understand their emotions and build confidence. It was a path that felt meaningful to her, rooted in empathy and care. But then her interests began to shift. 

As she grew more aware of serious health challenges affecting people in her home country, particularly children, something stirred in her. The need was urgent and real, and she felt a pull toward it that she couldn't ignore. She wanted to contribute in a meaningful way and help save lives.  

That feeling took on new clarity when Marwa joined the South High School healthcare club. This after-school program brought in nurses, hospital staff and other healthcare professionals to share their professional journeys, answer questions and introduce healthcare careers students might not have known about otherwise. 

"That club made medicine feel real and exciting," Marwa says. "Because of that experience, I became even more motivated to pursue a career in healthcare." 

The club didn’t just confirm her interest—it focused it. Marwa realized she wanted to go into medicine, and specifically, she felt drawn to cardiology. The heart, she says, is where life’s fragility and resilience meet. 

Discovering Her Strengths 

As her career goals came into focus, so did her understanding of herself as a learner. 

Marwa noticed something about herself during tests and classwork: she was a persistent person who didn’t give up easily. If she wasn’t satisfied with her work, she’d ask her teachers if she could try again. She also realized she was quick to pick up new information and retain it – a skill she traces back to her student days in Afghanistan, where memorization and regular review were central to learning. 

"I think this ability comes from my early education back in my home country," she reflects. "Over time, that helped me develop strong focus and a good memory for what I study." 

Her teachers and classmates noticed, too. Marwa was someone who learned quickly and held onto what she learned. In a new country and in a new language, Marwa quietly continued building the academic foundation she’d need for the road ahead. 

The Support That Made the Difference 

Knowing what you want to do and knowing how to get there are two different things. For many first-generation college students, that gap can feel impossibly wide. 

That's where Achieve Twin Cities came in. 

Marwa's Career and College Center coordinators, Ms. Katie and Ms. Kelsey, became two of the most important people in her journey. Their practical support was essential: step-by-step help with college applications, scholarship searches and FAFSA. But it was the way this support was delivered that Marwa remembers most. 

"What meant the most to me was the way they guided me through decisions and helped me believe I could figure things out," she says. "When I didn't know what direction to take, they were patient, supportive and always gave me different options so I didn't feel stuck." 

After so much uncertainty in her life—a new country, a new language, a new school system—having caring adults in her corner who were patient and encouraging made all the difference. College stopped feeling like an obstacle course and became a real, reachable goal. 

"Their support made everything feel less stressful and more possible for me," she says. 

That word possible carries a lot of weight. For students like Marwa, who arrive without a roadmap and have to build one while also adapting to everything else life is throwing at them, the presence of someone who consistently reflects possibility back at them is not a small thing. It is often the whole thing. 

Looking Ahead 

This fall, Marwa will start studying biology at a four-year college in Minnesota. It’s the first step on a long journey—one that will take hard work, focus and perseverance. But she’s already proven she has what it takes. 

Her long-term goal is medical school and, eventually, a career as a cardiologist. She thinks about the children in Afghanistan whose hearts need care that isn't available to them. She thinks about this responsibility she feels not as a burden, but as a purpose. 

When she reflects on graduation, her feelings are understandably mixed. 

"I know I’m going to miss my school a lot—my teachers and everyone around me," she says. "Leaving will be a little hard because I’ve made such strong connections. But I’m also really excited because I feel like I’m getting closer to my goals." 

That sense of simultaneous loss and excitement is one that many graduates know well. But for Marwa, there is something deeper underneath it—a recognition of how far she has already come, and a quiet confidence about how far she can go. 

Her Message to Students Coming Up Behind Her 

If Marwa could say one thing to a younger student just starting high school, it would be this: Don't take it for granted. 

"For many people around the world, a school like this is something they dream of," she says. "Education can truly change the way you think, the way you make decisions and the way you communicate with others. It not only helps the individual, but also positively affects the people around them." 

This advice carries the weight of experience of someone who has seen, firsthand, what it looks like when opportunity is scarce, and who has chosen to honor the opportunity she has been given by making the most of it. 

Marwa came to Minnesota not knowing where her path would lead. But along the way, she found teachers who encouraged her, a community that supported her, and Achieve coordinators who helped her believe her future was within reach.