What are you grateful for this holiday season? The answer is easy for Haseeb Ahmadi.
He left Afghanistan three years ago in search of a better life and found it in the United States. He's working full-time and taking classes full-time while pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity at Onondaga Community College.
"I am very grateful for this country and everyone here who has helped me. I am grateful to Americans for giving me this chance and this opportunity. I am able to work and earn money. I am able to study and fulfill my dream of higher education in this great country."
Ahmadi was born and raised in Afghanistan. In 2021, at age 21, he left his home country and arrived in the U.S. He was alone and didn't know anyone here. After settling in Central New York, he got his first job working the front desk at the Marriott Downtown Syracuse. "It taught me how to communicate better with people, how to control tough situations, and it got me ready for my second opportunity." His next employment opportunity was at Feldmeier Equipment where he currently works as a documentation specialist.
In his home country, Ahmadi graduated high school but did not have the opportunity to continue his education. "It was always a dream of mine to go to college at a good university." That dream began to take shape at OCC where he enrolled in the spring 2024 semester. The campus community helped him feel at home right away. "The teachers were super nice, very intelligent, and very supportive. That made it very easy for me. The whole campus vibe, the environment, is great for the students. From the teachers to the navigators everyone is working hard for you to be successful and that's what I love about this place. My navigator, Rich Goodell is a very very nice man who is very supportive. He helped me get through my first semester. If I have a question about anything, he is ready to help."
Ahmadi was extremely successful in his first semester, and in the fall was inducted into OCC's chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. "It was a big achievement for me. Working full-time and studying at night, keeping that balance, was very hard. When I was inducted, it really meant a lot. I do believe in hard work. And I believe if you don't work hard for something, you aren't allowed to complain."
Everything he's doing today is related to his desire to give back to the country which has welcomed him with open arms. That's why he chose to study Cybersecurity. "My main goal is to help people. I have a passion for technology and I think I am naturally good with it. Wherever I have worked I have been praised for my computer skills. In the future, I can help people and protect them from cyber threats and cyber issues while working in my passionate field of technology. I want to help people and organizations and companies be safe and contribute to separate the goodness and positivity."
