Student Spotlight: Sama.

Sama (front) with Sabina (who I'm hoping gets FLEX next year) at Novruz.

I mentioned FLEX a long long time ago here. It's been since then we've been waiting on the results from all those kids who applied study in America. We got word not too too long ago and, of the 42 that made it through, I'm happy to report that one of my students, Sama, will be going to America before I even have the opportunity to return. I am so excited that she'll have this chance to learn more about herself in an unfamiliar world.

Sama is one of those girls that's just special. You meet her and she's worlds apart from the majority of her Azeri counterparts. She's worked with Peace Corps Volunteers for years and her overall attitude beams of little parts we've all instilled in her. She's the first to speak in conversation clubs, plays softball with the best of them (and can hit from both the left and right), is a GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) alumna and is game for not necessarily meeting gender roles and norms here. I'm lucky to have gotten to work with her so intensely during this whole FLEX process and she is the product of a wonderful family, dedication, and many many Peace Corps Volunteers. She's a Ming success story, to be sure.

Sometimes, there are people who get the opportunity to study in America, but might not be open to all that entails. I don't see that being the case with her at all. I can't wait to see her in America being what I think of as a 'normal' teenager.