By: Jonathan Shen
In 2021, an Afghan Teen was separated from his family when he made it to the US from the dangerous Taliban, who were attacking the capital of Afghanistan (Kabul).
A 17-year-old Afghan Teen, known as BH, were shoving through crowds of people at the Kabul International Airport. It was chaotic, people tried to board planes, to flee from their worst nightmares, the Taliban. However, for BH, it’s more than just nightmares, it’s about life and death, about his family’s safety.
“Everyone was pushing each other and they didn’t, you know, care about old people and children,” he recalls. “Everyone was afraid,” BH says he was scared, too.
Because BH’s Uncle has worked for the Afghan and US militaries, BH’s whole family is a suspect for the Taliban army. To make the situation worse, the US army retreated from Afghanistan in August 2021, making many citizens in Afghanistan worry.
BH ended up by himself, waiting to board a plane, when he couldn’t find his family, “I called them several times and no one was answering because there was a crowd and no one heard the phone ring,” BH says.
After a while, he boarded a huge Lockheed Hercules crowded with Afghan refugees with nothing but his documents and the clothes he was wearing.
Everyone in the camp had relatives in America except for BH. In the end, BH settled down with a conclusion. “Then I found out about Virginia,” said BH, “it has a good education system. And that was my goal to achieve.”
BH flew to Dulles Airport in Virginia, and found jobs, education, and 3 months of financial assistance offered by the State Department. Went to Alexandria City High School as a Junior and got an Apartment. BH persevered in studying and working on odd jobs. He also had a very hard time socializing with others.
Turns out, BH is actually luckier than most Afghans in the US. Thousands of Afghans struggle with English and have temporary work permits. BH now is very close to receiving his diploma and then he’s planning to learn computer programming at Northern Virginia Community College, paid with a scholarship from Alexandria high school.
Church staffer Whitney Mallory from the Christ Church in Alexandria has said that “They [Afghan refugees] find themselves at Target for $16 an hour. And the rent is $2,300 a month. And it’s impossible to make those ends meet.”
BH frequently talks to his family and sends them money when he can. He has a safe and decent life in Virginia, going to school and working a decent job at Goodwin House’s front desk, welcoming a community like how everyone welcomed him.
“Today is Eid,” BH says. A day when Muslims celebrate the accomplishment of their sacred duties during Ramadan. However, to BH, it only made him feel more lonely. Even though Kabul is dangerous now, BH still misses the food, hanging out with his friends, and playing soccer.
“We had a great country,” he says, mourning what his life used to be like before the Taliban returned. “All the time I’m worrying about my family because they’re in danger. They have no rights, no freedom of speech. Our Afghan girls can’t go to school.”
BH pulled up the shades to see the urban scenery from his room. He once lived in a beautiful place in Kabul, a home with a backyard of trees full of fruits. Either way, BH is happy that he has supported his family, done what he can do, and he will continue doing so.