Hamid Rezaee’s Journey

Hamid was born and raised in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan where he completed high school. He was in grade 11 when he applied to Camp Afghanistan hoping to connect with peers his age from across Afghanistan. Hamid believed that through interaction and connection with youth nationwide he could build a support group of like-minded individuals who care about self and community development.

Hamid’s application to Camp impressed us at many levels. First, he was different than many applications we get which are usually focusing on high school grades and the markings they’ve got – which are important but not the only focus when considering applicants. Hamid in his application focused on his responsibility towards his own dreams but also towards his community. His vision was that although going on and learning is very important, action is even more important and that as a young global citizen, he aims to care about the world’s future while paying attention to the present.

Hamid was determined to use his skills and network at Camp Afghanistan to apply to his dream universities abroad. While working on his applications, the Taliban took over Afghanistan and the instability led to the closure of many educational centers where he intended to take his university admission test and the embassies where he could possibly get a visa. Hamid did not give up and moved to Pakistan with his family, after which he was admitted to Cornell.

Hamid aims to study computer science with a minor in entrepreneurship.

We asked Hamid to describe his experience at Camp Afghanistan and he said:

“As a socially active individual, I was always looking for opportunities for interaction, collaboration, and teamwork. Camp Afghanistan gave me that. It provided a unique environment where I engaged with a diverse group of peers, utilizing my interpersonal skills through various group activities and discussions. These experiences at Camp Afghanistan were pivotal in maintaining my social dynamism, which proved invaluable during my application process to Cornell. They taught me how to effectively communicate and work in a team, skills that are highly regarded in the university’s collaborative and intellectually rigorous environment. This camp not only kept my social spirit alive but also refined my ability to connect and contribute meaningfully within a community. It’s this blend of social adeptness and teamworking skills, demonstrated at Camp Afghanistan, that has been instrumental in my successful transition and continued excellence here at Cornell University.”

– Hamid