Aliza is a 13 year old Afghan refugee who migrated to the United States in 2022.

The biggest challenge Aliza, a 13-year-old Afghan refugee who migrated in 2022, has observed amongst Afghan refugees is the anxiety and unfamiliarity when adjusting to a new country. She contrasted her life in Afghanistan, where she was freer to visit relatives or other places on her own, with the restrictions her family places on her in the United States because of unfamiliar surroundings and safety concerns. When she first came to the U.S., she initially struggled with English, but her confidence improved within the first two months. Regarding mental health challenges, Aliza stated that, “A lot of people get anxiety and stress. There is a lot of anxiety about safety and going to school from Afghan parents. Some of them don’t speak English very well and they can’t help their children.” According to Aliza, limited English proficiency often prevents parents from helping their children with schoolwork, creating additional stress for both parents and children.