We hear from many students who have faced unique challenges in studying in the U.S., but Sarah’s story is one we haven’t heard before. She wrote to us to say that she was “over the moon” to receive her acceptance to Notre Dame University, but “the big question? How will we take the children calmly through a 17hour flight?”
With a husband and two small children hoping to accompany her to the U.S., Sarah had some extra stress during her journey to start school this fall.
“You are never too old to dream or pursue your passions; it’s never too late no matter what; hope should never die; one must never give up.” Those were just some of the things I told myself when I was nursing my unfulfilled desire to pursue a masters in international human rights law. I thought to myself, “I believe in a big God able to do impossible things, so eventually, no matter what, this Master’s will come my way.”
Lo and behold there it was in front of my eyes; an email from the University of Notre Dame accepting me into their international human rights law program for 2013. I was stunned. I was breathless. I read it over and over again savoring every word, especially “pleased to offer you.” I, a wife, mother of two energetic toddlers and public prosecutor, was about journey across the globe to fulfill a seven-year-old dream!
University of Notre Dame (Creative Commons by Gbozik)
But first I had to get there.
Step one was easy: accept the offer by email and relish in telling friends and family, especially my mom who was living vicariously through me, that finally it had happened and what a prestigious university I had been accepted to.
Step two however, getting the visas, was something of a mission. All the spook stories I heard of people being turned down for some unattainable unidentifiable reason loomed large as my family and I waited for our interviews to come. Would they allow us to go together, or would they decide that I didn’t need my family to be with me on this journey?
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