Welcoming Ghazi to the VCU Class of 2026
As a relative newcomer to the United States, Ghazi Albareh might easily have been overwhelmed by the college application process. After all, even native English speakers and birthright citizens can be flummoxed by transcript submission deadlines, the complexities of financial assistance forms, and the stress of choosing the right school.
The 19-year-old high school senior and Iraq native will soon be heading to Virginia Commonwealth University, however, in part because of his friendship with ReEstablish Richmond mentor, Charles Pauley. Their mentorship is part of the International Rescue Committee’s MyVA program, aimed at supporting young adults in refugee communities advance their post-high school goals.
When Ghazi and Charles began meeting over Zoom earlier in the pandemic, conversations quickly turned to Ghazi’s plans for the future. The young man, who arrived in central Virginia with his parents as a middle schooler, knew that he wanted to attend college. He was far less sure of how to go about making that happen.
Charles turned out to be a perfect guide. Having recently graduated from VCU, the 24-year-old was familiar with turning a dream of college into reality. He could answer Ghazi’s questions about college norms, help him through the admissions process, and support him with any questions that may arise. And he could easily empathize with the blend of excitement and apprehension that comes with transitioning to a new phase of life.
“It’s a pretty stressful time,” said Charles. “It’s been nice to try to help somebody with something I was pretty unsure of myself… I really wish that I had someone like that to help me when I was applying to university, so I’m happy to have had the opportunity to assist my mentee with the process.”
Ghazi remembers their early sessions as “talking about college, about life.” Charles offered ideas about what colleges to apply to and how to fill out necessary forms.
“He helped me learn what to do next,” Ghazi said.
But they connected socially as well. As a recent graduate with a degree in Anthropology and a strong interest in global affairs, Charles’ connection with a younger person – particularly an international student – was a natural fit. Ghazi noted the social aspect of their mentorship as well, commenting “We had fun talking about things outside tutoring … Our conversations got me to learn more about the U.S. in general.” They talked about a variety of interests with each other, ranging from metal music and video games to Ghazi’s participation in a junior ROTC program.
After months of weekly online sessions, the pair finally had their first in-person meeting touring the VCU campus together. Ghazi had visited the VCU hospital complex, but he had never seen the academic campus at Monroe Park. “It can be easy to get lost in the city,” he said. Having a guide who could tailor a tour to his interests made the experience both more comfortable and useful.
Both are sad to see their year-long mentorship coming to an end, but they’re excited for the abundance of opportunities in Ghazi’s future. “Ghazi’s taken a lot on himself, and I commend him for it…Helping and getting to know my mentee was a great experience,” noted Charles. He applauded the determination that led to Ghazi’s acceptance at VCU and noted “I could not be more happy for him!!” regarding Ghazi’s admission into the Summer Scholars program. Ghazi is excited to be attending VCU’s five-week summer program to get a head start on his coursework, and hopes to study chemistry once classes begin in the fall.