Two Afghan teenagers who fled the Taliban regime in their home country recently participated in Stony Brook University’s Pre-College Summer (PCS) program, gaining exposure to college-level coursework and hands-on experience in their fields of interest.
Tabby Hooram, who left Afghanistan four years ago after the Taliban banned girls from attending secondary school and university, described her time in a cancer biology lab at Stony Brook as “like magic.” She explained, “Oh, it was like magic!” describing how she watched cancer cells die under treatment. Hooram credited her family and neighbors for inspiring her dream of becoming a doctor: “What really inspired me was my family and neighbors in Afghanistan. They gave me the nickname ‘doctor,’ which was really motivational. I was just a kid, but they believed in me so much.”
After fleeing to Pakistan with her mother and sister, Hooram became separated from her mother due to limited resources. In Pakistan, she met Fatima Rajaye, another former member of the Afghanistan Scout Association. Rajaye recounted her own escape: “It was too dangerous for us to stay in Afghanistan,” she said. “So our scout leaders helped us find a safe house in Pakistan while we went through the process of getting our U.S. visas.”
Both girls eventually received full scholarships to attend Emerson Waldorf School in North Carolina and found support through a host family. Rajaye joined Troop 39 of Scouting America and is on track to become the first Eagle Scout from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Hooram founded Afghan Scouts Durham (ASD), a nonprofit that supports 30 displaced Afghan girls living in the United States by helping them apply for asylum, prepare for interviews, and access healthcare.
Hooram said about their motivation: “We’re really passionate, and we never give up. The whole reason we came to America was to continue our education. It was an inspiring journey, and I really wanted to show the world what’s happening in Afghanistan and what it’s like for Afghan girls who come here.”
Visa restrictions prevent both students from working or earning income while attending high school in the U.S., making programs like PCS challenging due to costs. When Stony Brook University offered discounted fees for Afghan girls, both seized the opportunity with financial assistance from the university.
Peter Diplock, vice provost for continuing, professional and online education at Stony Brook University said: “We believe it’s crucial to support girls who came from Afghanistan after the collapse of education for young women there. Getting them engaged in Pre-College Summer is the perfect next step, because they have aspirations of going to college here in the United States. Our program prepares them to do so successfully.”
For Hooram, staying on campus provided new experiences such as living with roommates and exploring college life: “I love the community here,” she said. “It’s really nice, and the campus is beautiful. I see people being really kind to each other and supporting each other, and that means a lot to me.” She added that working alongside scientists changed her perspective on possible medical careers: “Every day, we did a different experiment,” she said. “And it was really awesome. Working with the professor was the highlight of my days, and the hands-on experience helped me improve my skills and try new things.”
Rajaye took part in PCS’s pre-law course where instructor David Scott noted her performance during mock trials: “We had three mock trials,” he said. “And Fatima took the witness role on her team. She did very well. I was impressed with her confidence and professionalism on the witness stand.” Rajaye also met Mary Beth Tinker and Cathy Kuhlmeier—plaintiffs involved in landmark Supreme Court cases—which reinforced her interest in law.
“Now that I’ve attended this program, I’m sure I want to study law and become a lawyer,” Rajaye said.
Scott further shared Rajaye’s reflections: “I spoke with Fatima about her experience in the course, and she shared that she found it empowering and that it increased her motivation to be an advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves,” he said.
Both students plan to apply their experiences at PCS as they prepare college applications—with both expressing intent to apply at Stony Brook University.
“I want to say thank you to the Pre-College Summer Program for making these opportunities possible for all students who want to experience the program,” Rajaye said.
