Mohanad’s Story
My name is Mohanad, I’m 18 years old and from Egypt. In the past, I was someone who wanted to do almost everything, including hanging out, going out in cars, and racing, just to pass the time. Honestly, I didn’t like that version of myself. My friends were kind but still, they weren’t focusing on their identities, on who they were becoming. They were like me, seeking some illusion to escape from what they truly needed to confront, and they were worse than ” bad friends”; even though they were good people, they would have led me to a path I didn’t want and that I knew could hurt me.
I am not a great person, and maybe this story could be like anyone’s, but I do know that I have worked, experimented, and learned through many experiences. I’ve interacted with almost every social class and learned a lot. Unfortunately, my choices at that time were mostly to escape difficulties instead of facing them with patience. But after this opportunity, I decided to focus on becoming the person I truly want to be and not care about what others do. 
When I got hope and an opportunity from OC Online and was told there was another organization also ready to help me, I decided to leave all that behind. I became closer to my faith. Although I have a different religion, during this period I learned patience and how to face trials. I learned to know God more deeply, and I started praying regularly. I completely left the things I used to do as a young person, which I thought were fun but actually weren’t.
I think I am a simple person. There is nothing extremely great or exciting about me, but I think I can make good jokes (haha) and I also love listening to others and respecting their opinions, no matter what. I enjoy discussions very much. I chose this school, and maybe this is not a typical answer, but I believe destiny put me here. After two full years of trying to find a better opportunity, God decided to reward me. During those two years, I was doing things that did not satisfy me, but when I truly understood my religion and got closer to God, He guided me here. I am proud and really happy to be part of this school, because besides my religion, I learned many additional things that are very inspiring, especially about Christianity.
Being at OC Online
Everything really surprised me about OC Online. I like everything. It is a completely new experience for me, unlike anything I was used to. I love the classes that involve thinking, philosophy, discussions about religion, or sharing and knowing other people’s opinions. That is my favorite part.
I came from a weak educational system and did not see many good teachers. In my government school, the system was very different from private schools. Here, everything about the courses, the system, discussions, and freedom of opinion is new for me. Most importantly, there is a true understanding between teacher and student. In my old school, I had never seen this. Teachers didn’t care; students created problems—and there were many other issues. I was not proud of that, but of course, it was just a trial, and I thank God for everything.
I grew by understanding more about other religions. This opened a new door for me to accept opinions and gain a huge knowledge of Christianity. Most of the courses are related to philosophy and subjects I truly love. These kinds of subjects are weak in my country. The system in Egypt focuses only on specific fields and ignores others because of the culture and environment. I also grew in the way I think, in how I present my opinions, and my language improved a little too.
Sponsorship
I was thankful to have a non-profit global organization that supported me in every way with school, and I am especially grateful to the staff for their guidance and encouragement. The people in that organization have been kind, respectful, and deeply committed to their Christian faith, which I admire as a Muslim because of their dedication and passion. They are always ready to help anyone in any way. I truly believe that organization will become something extraordinary in the future and hope to continue contributing as a volunteer.
I want to give back as much as I can to support students who really need help because when I grow up, I want to do everything I can to help those who might be in my place or who need an opportunity. I hope that one day I achieve my dreams and find a way to change my environment and help even more. Sometimes life is just a test, something we should be grateful to God for; our situation could have been worse. But it is our duty to try, and here I am, trying and living. Maybe in the future, I will find even more opportunities and truly help those who have everything except the chance, because they deserve it.
If you’d like to hear more about how OC Online can support students internationally, reach out! Online@oakschristian.org
