Homeland development key outcome
for Afghan degree-seeker

The major point of earning a college degree for Ahmad Sear Rahimi is to gain an education that will enable him to contribute to the development of Afghanistan.

“I am proud to be from Afghanistan,” Rahimi said. “My country needs people who are highly educated and I hope to use the knowledge I am acquiring for the success of my country. My main passion in life is to work for the prosperity of my people and to develop the land that once used to be a beautiful and amazing place for people to live. I want to help Afghanistan become even better than the way it used to be before the war.”

Originally from Lagham, an eastern province of Afghanistan, Rahimi was educated at an American-sponsored high school among a diverse international student population taught mainly by American teachers.

“I decided to come to WMU at the last moment,” he said. “I wanted to go to university in New York, but when I asked my high school counselor, she said she had graduated from Western Michigan University. Another reason I chose WMU is that I have a friend going to school in Big Rapids, Michigan, so I thought it would be great to be able to see him.”

Rahimi said his transition to campus life at WMU has been fairly easy, very rewarding, and he has met “many nice people” since he arrived in Kalamazoo in August 2011.

“I love the type of classes offered at Western and the professors care about your academic success,” he said. “There are a lot of student groups you can join, which really helps enhance your campus experience. I was also able to get a job as a dorm resident assistant. When I applied for the position, I thought I might be stereotyped and not get the job, but I was wrong. That is something I totally love about Western—no matter what race or ethnic group you are from, you are always treated the same.”

Though he hasn’t yet been on campus a full year, Rahimi has enjoyed the change of Michigan’s seasons and the rich cultural life Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan have to offer.

“I have heard people complaining about the cold weather in Michigan, but the weather in summer and fall was pretty awesome,” he said. “Kalamazoo has very fresh weather. I like Kalamazoo for its art exhibitions—it is a place where art is appreciated. The city also has pretty decent restaurants you can hang out in. One of the main things you notice when you start living here is a great diversity of cultures.”

Rahimi in the snowy mountains of Afghanistan

Initially, Rahimi chose to major in finance with a minor in economics, with the hope that he might someday land a job in the Afghan government. He was interested in studying trends in the Afghan economy and how those trends affect politics and the actions of other countries. Like many underclassmen early on in their academic careers, Rahimi recently decided to change his major from finance to engineering. He now plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at WMU, a master’s degree in architecture, and to eventually work for a firm or organization based in Kabul, Afghanistan. Long-term, he hopes to someday open his own construction company. “Engineering involves a lot of designing and solving complex issues,” he said. “I like math and designing things. I discovered that working in finance is not something I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Rahimi received financial support to study at WMU through the WMU Diether H. Haenicke Scholarship for undergraduates and an award from the Haworth College of Business. A one-year scholarship provided by the United States Embassy in Afghanistan covered his books, travel expenses, visa fee, and health insurance. His family pays the balance, about 40 percent of his total college expenses.

Changing perceptions about Afghanistan is another challenge Rahimi has taken on while studying in the U.S., and though he rarely gets homesick there are a few things he misses.

“It’s not all like what you see on the news,” he said. “Yes, of course, there is a war going on, but there are many positive things about my country. I miss its rugged mountains full of snow that surrounds the city like a shield. I miss the food, flying kites with my brother, and playing soccer with my high school friends. I miss the fresh fruits of my country and the road trips I used to take with my family. I miss watching people driving crazy because we don't have speed limits. I miss the fresh cold water of Salang and a drink called Dogh. I also miss wearing my Afghani clothing.”

Story by Nate Coe