A Glimpse Beyond Privilege
By Noor Khalil
Sticks holding up blankets that create an illusion of a tent. Clothes hanging by a thread to block the sun from entering the tent. “Home,” is what the Syrian community calls this tent. Old, ripped-up shirts from the back of my closet are what a Syrian refugee calls their windows in the Zaatari Refugee Camp. When I was twelve years old, I had the opportunity to visit this camp where these refugees welcomed my mother and I with the biggest smiles and hospitality. This made my twelve-year-old self, who came from one of the wealthiest cities in America, realize just how much we take advantage of the smallest things these people consider luxurious. After my first day, I was set on helping these people. My duties were simple at first, providing water and clothes to different sections of the camp, but the experience slowly changed my perspective on life when I began talking to children my age. Through our conversations, I realized how blinded I was seeing how a refugee's everyday privileges are what I considered necessities. Being able to do something small for these families made my life so much more valuable. Besides donating a few shirts, or giving away used shoes I didn't want anymore, I wanted to do something long-lasting that can further change third-world countries in need.
Growing up, I never felt gravitated toward a specific major or topic, only a voice in the back of my mind questioning: “How can I transform this drive into a profession?” Through various conversations with a diverse selection of engineers, I began to dip my toe in the pool of coding and design. Slowly, I found my passion gravitating towards coding for children to whom I can make an impact as society is advancing in technology, rather than working for a multi-trillionaire engineer who tweets about buying Twitter. With that being said, I hope to further my career by establishing my own nonprofit where I am able to use the techniques and experiences I have learned, to alleviate human suffering; through compassionate service to victims of adversities and disasters.