Speaker 1: OTAN, Outreach and Technical Assistance Network.

Miami Abdulal: I was born and raised in Syria. I have moved to the United States in December of 2011. I had a very nice and beautiful childhood with the family full with love and happiness. Everything that I did in my childhood was preparing me and I was dreaming to be on TV one day.

All the games and toys was related to the media. Every hairbrush that I had, I used it as a microphone so I can pretend to be like an anchor or a news anchor. And basically we move to the United States fleeing the Civil War there. And the US was our destination because my dad was a US citizen. And honestly, we did not want it to leave. I didn't want to leave my family, I didn't want it to leave my friends.

Thoibi Rublaitus: The challenges that Miami had was she brought a lot of suffering and the sadness of leaving her family in Syria, and then having to start from scratch in a brand new country.

Miami Abdulal: I came with zero English. I probably know a couple of words like an apple, soccer, and that's all about it. But I wanted to go to school. I had to learn. If I wanted to help my family, and my country I had to go to school.

Thoibi Rublaitus: When I first met Miami she was very shy and withdrawn. She did not speak much nor did she smile.

Miami Abdulal: Miss Thoibi was my hero at that time. I was in a huge depression, I had very bad times, dark nights. I was always wearing black and crying all the time because I miss my family, I miss my country. I don't know English. I went to the Adult School education as a first step to start my career or my education in this country.

Nour Idris: She's just like thinking about the media. Studying, working like what she will be in the future.

Miami Abdulal: I try to move on my own thought I would be taking a faster step toward my career, but that did not help. I went to college, I didn't know what to do. I still remember every corner that I cried in Norco College because I didn't know where to start. I didn't know what is financial aid or how to apply to school.

And I went back crying to Miss Thoibi like I don't know what to do next. And she was like do worry bought it. Let's focus on English classes now and we will help you here. The adult school helped me learn the language, helped me learn the process, helped me learn how to deal with this country, how to go to school, how to get a job, and how to do a lot of stuff. That was my first step.

Nour Idris: She's very hardworking, very always studying. All the time when I'm calling her, like I'm just there like hey Miami. We are now friend making evening or something. All the time she told me, I'm sorry I cannot do it, I'm sorry, I have to study. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. So that's what's happening all the time.

Thoibi Rublaitus: And she was like a Spanish getting everything that was given to her. And that's one reason she transitioned to Norco college faster than most of her classmates.

Miami Abdulal: And I signed up for all the journalism classes. And from there, I transferred to Cal State Long Beach to finish my degree. I made it through college, I made it through university because of the hub of the Corona Education School. And today I'm in the media, I'm in the journalism field.

Thoibi Rublaitus: We were so proud that she just took whatever she learned in school in our civics classes and went beyond and above what we taught her.

Miami Abdulal: I had my own radio show. And the radio show was focusing on every single topic and struggle that an immigrant or someone who moved recently to the United States would face. Every topic that it took at the Adult School education at my civic classes, I brought it into my radio show to support other people to start their life in this country and in the community.

Nour Idris: She's like all the time looking for the future. When she thinks about something, she wants to do it. She do it. If it's hard, if it's anything, if it's impossible, but she'll do it if she wants that. She will be like a big thing in the future. That's what I'm so happy for her. Yeah.

Miami Abdulal: And today I'm an assignment editor with abc7. And this is just the beginning of my career. Corona Adult School education and my family helped me navigate my way. And every single person in these schools can help you with something, so use them all. Don't give up. Learn, get the language, go to college, university, and get your degree. Never give up.

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