Feroza Ahmadi started at GVP in August 2022, shortly after she moved to the U.S. from her native Afghanistan. She and her sister attended GVP at the same time. From the beginning Feroza was clear about what she wants to learn, as well as the goals she has for herself.

“She is serious most times but funny sometimes,” Feroza’s sister, Shabana, says about her. But her seriousness is usually the outward expression of her drive and focus. “I want to be a congresswoman,” Feroza says “and I want to stand by our rights.” Her motivations for this are informed by her experience with education growing up in Afghanistan: “When the Taliban came there were no rights for women and girls. They could not go to school and this was very upsetting for me. If you have an education, you can make your life be whatever you want.”

While at GVP, Feroza took this belief to heart and pursued her education fervently. She made great strides socially and academically and in January 2024 was ready to go on to high school. Today, she attends Clarkston High School, where she is in the 9th grade. She recently applied for and won a spot in the Page program at the Georgia State Capitol, which she will take part in during this year’s legislative session.