By Tiffany Boggs, Student Media. Edited by Jane Rooney, UL Marketing and Communications.
Leaving Afghanistan for the United States in 2019, Sahar Qureshi embraced the challenge of earning an education while working full-time, supporting her family, and learning a new culture—a journey that embodies the American Dream.
Qureshi’s path is grounded in her faith, perseverance, and gratitude. She came to George Mason University in 2023 seeking flexibility and understanding. As a student, she found academic success and a community that helped her grow into the person she has always wanted to become.
This month, Qureshi will walk across the stage to receive her bachelor’s in operations and supply chain management from the Donald G. Costello College of Business. She will be the first in her family to graduate from college. Her story reflects how success can be rooted in determination, resilience, and a passion for helping others.
Born and raised in Afghanistan, she learned from her parents the importance of maintaining strength regardless of the pressure you face. She recalled seeing her father come home every night with a big smile, making everything feel lighter for his children after long hours at work. Her mother would come home after a full day at work,prepare food, and tend to the family’s needs without complaining.
As an adult starting to handle her own responsibilities, Qureshi recognized the burden her parents carried throughout her childhood. But what stays with her are the sacrifices her parents made when they left everything behind to give their children a better future education.
“As a child, I never saw the pressure behind their strength. As an adult, I finally understand how much they were balancing and how strong they truly had to be,” she said.
Open to opportunities
Qureshi emulated her parents’ perseverance by balancing being a full-time undergraduate student and working full-time. A typical day for Qureshi began with getting ready for work while mentally planning her assignments. During breakfast, she reviewed class notes, responded to group emails, and noted upcoming deadlines. After work, she drove to campus for her evening classes. Those drives became the time she shifted her mindset from “professional responsibilities to academic expectations.”
She found time to join the business honor society, attend career services events, and excel in her internships. Along the way, she faced challenges like learning English and opening up in the academic environment. Qureshi developed as a leader through her business courses, group projects, and assignments. Besides drawing strength from her parents’ experience, she also relied on her deep faith, supportive professors, and a strong sense of responsibility to seize opportunities on campus.
The university’s mission to prepare students for the realities of adulthood drew Qureshi to George Mason. “Mason didn’t just give me an education—it gave me the structure, resources, and encouragement I needed to keep moving toward my goals,” she said.
After graduation, she plans to continue building her career in business and hopes to earn a master’s degree in diplomacy. Her long-term goal is to create global connections and advocate for girls’ education internationally. Qureshi explained that this passion comes from meeting young girls who are “talented, driven, and full of ambition” but don’t have access to the opportunities they deserve. She wants to work in spaces to contribute to policy, international partnerships, and organizational efforts that prioritize educational rights through leadership, advocacy, or community involvement.
Qureshi defines success as becoming the person her younger self had always imagined. “I am proud that I never gave up. My journey shows other young women that with faith, hard work, and determination, you can rise above any challenge.”