Basher Atiya took an opportunity to work for the U.S. military as an interpreter in his native country of Afghanistan. However, after some U.S. forces withdrew, his living situation became unsafe so he took a chance to earn a degree in a new country.
“My situation turned into a great opportunity because I could move to the U.S. to get an education. I always thought about continuing in the U.S. after earning my bachelor’s degree. Instead I was able to start it here,” explained Atiya, a junior majoring in accounting.
A nontraditional student, Atiya worked with Nebraska Business advising to ensure a successful transfer to Nebraska.
After a nearly two-year process, Atiya moved to the U.S. with a plan. With a family to support, he began working for Kawasaki in Lincoln, Nebraska, while going to Southeast Community College (SCC). With the intent to transfer to Nebraska, Atiya reached out to Ashley Light, academic advisor for the College of Business, for assistance.
“It was a struggle, but it made me stronger. After two semesters at SCC, I started talking to Ashley to make sure I was taking the right classes. She was a tremendous help,” he said.
Light became impressed with Atiya’s initiative and called his transition to Nebraska “a seamless one.”
“Working full-time and going to school, Basher did it all well. I could tell he’d done research due to his understanding of the requirements for graduation, planning out classes and asking knowledgeable questions about what courses to take and why,” she said.
The drive and initiative Light witnessed were drawn from Atiya’s experience in both the military and work.
“In the military, you need to be disciplined, organized and able to communicate on time because missing a deadline could cost a life. Paying attention to details and communication are also important in accounting. It’s just the technicalities that are different,” he said.