Original Story Published by: Michaela Jarvis, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University News, www.news.erau.edu
Photo Source: ©Deng Pour
(Above) Master Sergeant Deng Pour, who came to the United States over two decades as a refugee, is earning a graduate degree in cybersecurity
Taylor Schaffer, academic advisor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide Campus, has always known master’s degree candidate Deng Pour was a great student. Extremely motivated, Pour has been working a full-time course load in order to finish this fall, while also serving as a master sergeant in the Air Force and raising a family.
“I know he will be successful with his future endeavors,” Schaffer said.
What Schaffer didn’t know until recently is that Pour, who was born in Sudan, grew up amid a civil war and suffered displacement, separation from family, hunger and violent trauma from the time he was a small child.
"I have been through a lot in my life! I have used this to be able to motivate people who are going through difficult times."
“I was actually surprised to hear about his traumatic childhood. He never brought up any of that to me,” said Schaffer. “I already knew that he was a great guy, but knowing his past and what he has overcome takes it to another level.”
When Pour was 5 years old, he was forced to flee from his village when it was invaded by enemy forces. He was in his cousin's house at the time of the attack and escaped with family. Pour's mother was left behind, and Pour and other family members walked to Ethiopia. With no food on hand, they ate anything they could find along the way to stay alive, he explained. Arriving at a refugee camp, Pour and his mother were reunited, but when war broke out in Ethiopia, they were forced back to Sudan. Only about half of the 500 people who made the journey back survived due to gunfire attacks, hunger, thirst, disease and attacks by wild animals.
To read the full article, visit https://news.erau.edu.
Related
