On a daily basis, growing up in a refugee camp, Hourie was reminded she was a refugee. Going to and from the camp she had to show her ID. Her family didn’t have to live in the camp, but like many other refugee families, they couldn’t afford to live outside the camp. Within the camp it was very insecure - physical and armed clashes, Lebanese vs refugees and Palestinians vs Palestinians. The Lebanese government was also not responsible for their safety. It was a harsh reality for a young girl and for the many refugee children who lived in that environment.

While Katarina has had many successes in America, we know that being an immigrant is challenging.  Katarina, like many of you reading this, has shed many tears during the uncertainty, struggling through times of lack or loneliness or the pain of just not understanding the US education, immigration or housing systems or just getting lost on the subway system.  On multiple occasions she had to ask for help and Katarina says people were always willing to help. 

This permit allows international students to work for one year. However, they must find a job within the first 90 days of receiving the permit or lose the authorization to work. Samuel spent the first 40 days looking for a job, before he accepted a job as a supervisor at a half-way house that helped former prison in-mates transition back into society. It had nothing to do with what he was studying, but he no longer had to worry about losing the OPT work permit and it provided him with some income.