JTC 25: A Voice for the Voiceless

For most young students, leaving for college usually entails a long car ride and an emotional drop-off by their parents, signifying the beginning of a new stage in life. For Mahdia Yari, that journey took her across the world, thousands of miles from her home in Kabul, Afghanistan.

“Destiny chose me,” said Yari, who is slated to graduate this May with a degree in political science from the University of Mississippi.

“I found it a bit challenging from the beginning, but then I noticed everyone is treated equally, so I was treated the same as others and got answers to my questions.”

Yari’s journey has presented several obstacles, at times leaving her unsure of her immediate future. She first found herself at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Then, she found a home at Ole Miss.

“It took so long for her to go through the entire visa process,” said Blair Thomson, senior international officer and director of study abroad. “It took her a year and a half to get to the University of Mississippi.

“The first time we met, I just hugged her because I felt like I already knew her.”

With support from a network of many people, Yari was able to upend her life in Afghanistan and start anew in Oxford. She received scholarships from the Department of Political Science, the Office of Global Engagement and the Institute of International Education through the Qatar Scholarship for Afghans Project.

Yari went through the process of transferring university credit from the American University of Afghanistan and the American University of Central Asia, not knowing how many of her credits would be applicable at Ole Miss.

Rather than being discouraged, she embraced this challenge as another step toward her ultimate goal of earning a graduate degree in the United States.

While studying political science, Yari started an emphasis on international conflict.

“I’m trying to find out what is happening and why it’s happening,” she said “I ended up doing advocacy and lobbying on behalf of voiceless people, to be the voice for them, especially for women and the younger generations.

"It was a hard decision getting into politics, but I wanted to figure out what narratives are unfolding behind the scenes.”

Beyond her academic pursuits, Yari has established herself as a campus leader. She serves as a Leadership and Engagement Ambassador and has become a NASPA Certified Peer Educator in the WellRebs Program at the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education. Her role includes educating fellow students about substance harm reduction, healthy relationships and mental wellness – work that resonates with her deeper mission of supporting vulnerable populations.

Ulitmately, Yari wants to use the knowledge she has gained to help those less fortunate than her after pursuing graduate education.

“I can see myself having an educational initiative for young students, especially young girls, in rural areas back home that invests knowledge and represents it back to others around them,” she said.

Having rebuilt her academic life in a new, unfamiliar country, Mahdia developed a philosophy centered on what unites people rather than what divides them.

“When you are living in a society or different communities, humanity is more important than everything else,” Yari said. “Humanity is the best religion; I am following my path based on that ideology. Be open and embrace the challenges you’re facing, as I did.

“Whatever you’re doing, do not only do it as a responsibility, but do it as a passion. Be humble, do not rely on selfishness or status and always be open to supporting others.”

Top: Mahdia Yari has found purpose and community at the University of Mississippi, where she will graduate with a degree in political science and a passion for advocacy, education and global change. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services