As I reflect on my journey through various educational pathways, I have shared with you the multitude of experiences that have shaped my understanding and perspective on learning. My story is not just a personal narrative, but also a tapestry woven with the threads of ambition, resilience, and the pursuit of knowledge. Throughout this book, I have emphasised how my experiences mirror the complexities of the educational landscape that refugee and displaced children face in armed conflict settings.

I have shared that from my early days, grappling with the foundational concepts in school to the pivotal moments that defined my academic trajectory, my education has been more than just formal schooling. It has been an evolving process influenced by mentors, peers, good Samaritans, and, perhaps most importantly, invisible hands of people I didn’t know. I find my determination to face challenges head-on, adapting to changes and pushing through obstacles that many would have found daunting. My ability to embrace both successes and failures has provided me with valuable insights into the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, even though sometimes this was not possible. Moreover, my experience of education in diverse educational contexts highlights the importance of adaptability in an ever-changing world. My experiences across varying environments – from traditional classrooms to more innovative learning settings – demonstrate that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to education, reinforcing the necessity for educational systems that continue to evolve and cater to the diverse needs of all learners.

As someone who grew up in a refugee camp, I understand how it feels to lack the necessities. I have seen children forced to drop out of school because their parents couldn’t afford the fees. It always made me wonder why there were no alternative pathways to education for them. I have witnessed many of my generation waste their lives, and now, in their forties, their children were born in refugee camps, continuing the same life trajectory as their parents. The lack of alternative pathways to education led many of these children astray, even those who aspired to leave school. I believe access to education is the most durable solution to the refugee situations in the world. Through my experience in Canada, I learned that education changes lives, regardless of where it is achieved. Complementary alternative pathways to education not only give hope but also serve as an investment and empowerment in communities.

It breaks my heart that many of my refugee friends didn’t get the opportunity to realise their dreams. The strict scholarship selection criteria denied them the chance to get an education. It is frustrating to think that in a world where we are supposed to help each other, we haven’t established more ways to empower young refugee children to dream of a bigger world. Just like other people around the world, young refugee children come into this world like the petals of a flower; they are beautiful but vulnerable. It is our responsibility as a society to ensure that we develop these children to contribute positively to our society. After all, Einstein, one of history’s most influential minds, was once a refugee boy who grew up to change the world’s understanding of relativity and the trajectory of physics. This foregrounds the need and potential for more supportive pathways for refugee education.

As I conclude, I am left with a profound respect for those doing their best to address issues of educational inequity faced by refugee students. My story is a reminder that education is not merely about acquiring information, but about growing individuals who would contribute to our communities. The path I have journeyed serves as a beacon to the many refugee and displaced children in armed conflict settings navigating their educational journeys. This story encourages them to seek out opportunities, learn from their experiences, and ultimately, chart their own courses in the pursuit of knowledge. But it is also a reminder that higher education institutions and educational providers play an important role in helping refugee students achieve their dreams through education. I hope that by this story, I can inspire other refugee students to continue dreaming while higher education institutions take a hard look into their policies to assess how they provide equitable access to education and how they achieve social impacts through equity lens. Starting this journey is as significant as reaching its destination, which is why creating educational pathways for refugees in more countries should not be delayed.