One was forced to flee her native country after government officials seized the house she and her family had lived in her whole life. Another grew up in a Nepali refugee camp from the time he was born until he was 17. And the class Valedictorian lost her mother at 3 years old and later immigrated from Bangladesh to America before finding academic success.
While the three come from different corners of the world, with vastly different customs, traditions, and like anywhere else, problems, all three of these remarkable Providence students share something in common: the ability to overcome adversity through perseverance to achieve academic success.
No one knows that better than Shiva Karki. Karki was born and raised in a Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal. His parents split up when he was 7, he said, and his mother left. And his father, who became his guardian, later died in 2009, and left Karki and his brother to fend for themselves.
"Since 2009, my brother and I have been dependent on one another," Karki said.
Humble Beginnings
Karki was educated in a school without electricity, running water, or plumbing. The school he attended as a child was, at its essence, not much more than a bamboo hut.
"It wasn't fun to go to school when it was raining," he said.
At the refugee camp, he said, occasionally he and his brother would find work. But in some instances they would not be paid for their efforts.
"There was just so much corruption there," Karki said. "It's sad."
But he caught a break in 2012. After a three year process, the International Organization for Migration along with the United Nations arranged for Karki and his brother to come to America, where he had some relatives. His aunts and uncles had long encouraged him to emigrate elsewhere. And he finally made that dream a reality and he and his brother came to America.
His brother, unfortunately, was 20, and too old to enroll in the public school system. Instead, the elder Karki was forced to get a job. But the younger Karki wasn't, and entered Hope High School.
"I adjusted."
As one can imagine, things weren't easy for Karki, at least initially. He needed to master English. Karki also had to make friends.
"At first I felt very bad, because I missed my friends back at home. But I adjusted," he said.
Karki quickly got the hang of things. He excelled in math and science classes, and his grade point average soared. He graduated last Wednesday in the top 10 percent of the class at Hope High.
While many in contemporary society wonder if the American Dream is still alive, don't say that to Karki.
"Things are just so different for me now. I have so much opportunity now," said Karki. And although he came off as rather stoic during the interview, Karki then cracked a smile and said, "I think I've made my family proud."
It was not even possible for him just five years ago, but beginning later this summer, Karki will be attending Rhode Island College.
Karki will use a scholarship from Hope High School's "Dollars for Scholars Program," which is run by alumni from school and raises money for high achieving students. The award normally goes to students with difficult backgrounds, to help pay for the cost of college.
Pascaline Uwase also received a scholarship from Dollars for Scholars. It is a $10,000 grant that will be used throughout her 4-year tenure at the University of Rhode Island.
Like Karki, Uwase journey to Hope High School's top of the class marked several thousands of miles and countries. Also like Karki, she's achieved significant academic success at Hope High--she's the class salutatorian. But the journey and the achievement were anything but easy.
Uwase was born in Rwanda. There, she lived in a house that was owned by her grandmother. But in 2009 the government seized the house under suspicion that her grandmother was somehow a participant in the Rwandan genocide that took place in 1994.
"Nowadays, we don't really talk about that any more, so I don't know much about it," said Uwase, when asked about the tragic massacre from 1994--before she was even born.
In any event, the loss of the house sent Uwase and her family to Uganda. There, she lived until 2013 when she moved to America to live with her grandmother. Also like Karki, she often struggled with the language barrier. She didn't learn English until her teens, which made the transition that much harder.
Different Cultures
That meant Uwase had to adjust twice to different cultures. It wasn't easy, particularly in America. When she first arrived, she was in the last quarter of her sophomore year. She struggled to make friends at first, and was troubled by her latest move.
But things changed when she was a Junior and joined the soccer team. Uwase not only made friends, but she also excelled at school. She began bringing home straight A's.
Uwase said it was difficult to adjust to the busy schedule of Americans.
"Here, when you're a teenager, it's almost like you're expected to work, whereas in Africa, you're basically doing nothing but education," she said.
Uwase works part-time at a fast food restaurant in Providence, roughly 20-hours per week. She said it was an adjustment as well, but she enjoys working.
A Different Style
The educational style is also much different in America, she said. Uwase said that she found the fact that students are not only allowed to give their opinions and speak their minds in class a welcome change from the academic cultures back in some foreign students' mother countries. The students in America, they said, are taught how to think instead of what to think, she said.
"I think this system is better because you have all this freedom, but you also need to be responsible," she said.
And if you get out of line in an African school system, expect to be smacked back into it--literally. Uwase said that corporal punishment is not even thought of in America, but the norm in Africa. Score one for America, she said.
Uwase's favorite subject is math, and she plans to pursue engineering when she begins attending the University of Rhode Island later this year. In addition to Dollars for Scholars, Uwase has also achieved several other scholarships including the Red Sox Scholarship, and the College MAP Scholarship.
Valedictorian Emphasizes Values
The school's valedictorian, Fatima Dewan, one of Uwase's best friends, also plans to attend the University of Rhode Island this autumn. Also like Uwase, she was born in a faraway land before immigrating to the United States, and overcoming adversity in the process.
Born in Bangladesh, Dewan's mother died when she was still a toddler. She relied heavily on her father and older sister for guidance. When she came to the United States, she was forced to leave her older sister behind, making the transition that much more difficult.
When she first got to America, Dewan didn't believe she could make the adjustment. But just like Karki and Uwase, she relied on a heavy dose of perseverance to pave the way towards academic success. She credits her father for her success in being such an important mentor in her life.
"From my childhood, I am confident in my morality, my sense of right or wrong. A person can’t be successful without influential figures in their life,” said Dewan, in a statement through Hope High School.
Dewan is staunch in her belief that success without values and morality will always ring hollow. She credits her father with teaching her that lesson, first and foremost.
"My father is the first person from whom I learned that character is the crown of a person,” she said. “In every second of my life, I try to cultivate good manners, honesty and truthfulness. Who I am today is because of him.”
A Common Occurrence
According to Lynn Harrigan, one of the guidance counselors at Hope High School, who is also Uwase's counselor, it's not unusual to see the top students in the class hail from other countries and cultures. When you're from a place that lacks upward mobility, and suddenly brought to a place that emphasizes talent and hard work, you're less likely to take that opportunity for granted, Harrigan said.
"You'd be surprised how often that's the case," said Harrigan.
"Students from other countries are some of our highest achieving students. They value education and they relish the opportunity. It's inspiring."
Related Slideshow: Top High Schools in Rhode Island 2014
Claim to Fame: School principal Scott Sutherland was named Rhode Island Principal of the Year in 2014 by the Rhode Island Association of School Principals.
Claim to Fame: A structure based on the Diploma Plus Model fosters positive relationships between parents, students, teachers, and administrators and creates powerful learning experiences that will motivate students to grow and succeed.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Peter Kilmartin (Rhode Island state representative and current attorney general), Kevin Lima (Disney animator and film director of the films A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians, Eloise at the Plaza, Eloise at Christmastime, and Enchanted), and Abraham Nathanson (developer of the game Bananagrams).
Claim to Fame: Times 2 Academy constantly exposes its students to guest speakers, internship opportunities, college fairs and job shadowing opportunities to encourage their students to embrace their futures.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include David Macaulay (author and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator), Aaron Fricke (gay rights activist), Johnny Goryl (MLB player for Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins), Jon LaRose (MLB player for Boston Red Sox), Daniel Stewart (first openly gay elected mayor in New York State history-Mayor of Plattsburgh, New York), Linda Nochlin (leading abstract expressionist artist), Peter and Bobby John Farrelly (film directors, producers, authors), Suzanne Martin (Emmy-award winning television producer), and Annette Nazareth (a Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission).
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Jamie Silva (Indianapolis Colts free safety), Claudia Jordan (model and reality TV star), T.J. Del Santo (Meterologist at WPRI-TV), Brent Martineau (Sportscaster), David Franklin (Scientist/Entrepreneur), Kim Schifino (Musician in Matt and Kim), Jennifer Lee (co-writer of Disney’s Wreck It Ralph).
Claim to Fame: Central Fall’s Chess Team has experienced incredible success and finished in the top 10 at a national tournament that had over 5,000 competitors, as well as receiving funding from star powerhouses such as Alec Baldwin’s Foundation.
Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts
2013 Rank: #23
Enrollment: 167
Claim to Fame: The schools shares prestigious artistic patnerships with RISD, Sandra-Feinstein Gamm Theatre, Fusionworks Dance Company, Athletics, Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, and Aurea.
Claim to Fame: Famous athletic alumni include Tom Mellow (played in the NHL, won a silver medal at the 1972 Olympics), Vinny Pazienza (former World Champion professional boxer), Mike Stenhouse (played in the MLB for the Expos and Boston Red Sox), Curt Bennett (an All-Star NHL player), Joe Cavanagh (Captained Harvard University’s hockey and tennis teams), Ray Jamieson (Oakland Raider’s fullback), Greg Oden (New England Champion Springboard Diver).
Claim to Fame: The school offers a Entrepreneur 360 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a 60-hour program for students supported by NFTE. Students learn about the concepts and the skills necessary to create a business, sharpen their work ethic and help grow their confidence.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Mark van Eeghen (former NFL Pro Bowl running back and the only person ever from Cranston West to have their number retired in any sport), Anthony Meo (baseball player), Jeff Diehl (baseball player), Tom Denucci (actor), Amber van Eeghen (former cheerleader for the New England Patriots).
Claim to Fame: The school sports a School Improvement Team that brings staff, students, community members, and parents together once a month to have their voices heard concerning how the school can be tailored for success.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include James Woods (Emmy-award winning actor), Chris Terreri (College All-American, Olympian, and two time Stanley Cup winning NHL goalie), Patrick Sheehan (PGA professional golfer), Dan Wheeler (Major League Baseball pitcher).
William M. Davies Career and Technical High School
2013 Rank: #29
Enrollment: 833
Mascot: Patriots
Claim to Fame: Davies ensures that Parents are heavily involved in the curriculum through the Parent Involvement Policy, which is a program supporting the development, implementation, and regular evaluation that includes parents in all grade levels.
Claim to Fame: The school is heated entirely by recycled wood chips in order to preserve the environment. The school also sports an Energy Lab that enables students to develop career pathways in stem agriculture. Their colors are green, and so is their mindset.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Bill Almon (baseball player) and Damian Constantino (baseball player, holds NCAA record holder with hits in 60 consecutive games).
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include John Orlando Pastore (Former Governor of Rhode Island, US Senator), S. J. Perelman (American Humorist) Bruce Sundlun (Former Governor of RI), Rudolph Fisher (pioneering Black radiologist and writer of the Harlem Renaissance), Irving R. Levine (Former NBC News Economics Correspondent), Frank Licht (Former Governor of RI), George Macready (American actor), A.O. Scott (Chief New York Times Movie Critic), Stanley Fish (Literary theorist and legal scholar), Michael Kang (Filmmaker), C. M. Eddy, Jr. (Renowned Author), Lauren Corrao (Comedy Central executive; helped develop That '70s Show and Mad TV for Fox),William A. Barnett (Economist), Robin Green (Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning television producer for The Sopranos and Northern Exposure, among others), S. Hastings Richardson (Author) Alexander Knight (Poet), Angel Taveras (First Latino Mayor of Providence).
Claim to Fame: Janice Anderson (Assistant Production Manager of Cirque de Soleil), Tom Cavanagh (Forward, Worcester Sharks), Sara DeCosta (Goalie, 1998 and 2002 U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team),Tony Petrarca (Chief Meteorologist, WPRI-TV), Brian Shanley (President of Providence College), David Petrarca (Director whose work has included Big Love, True Blood, and Hung for HBO; over 40 world premieres including Marvin’s Room on Broadway and West End, Fuddy Meers in NYC, and A Year With Frog and Toad on Broadway).
Claim to Fame: Students have the opportunity to bask in the spotlight in the Husky News Network, a student news organization where students can serve as anchors, camera men, and content writers.
Claim to Fame: Famous alums including Bebe Buell (model, singer, mother of actress Liv Tyler), The Cowsills (family singing act that was the inspiration for TV’s The Partridge Family), Tanya Donelly (co-founder and guitarist of the band Throwing Muses), Joanna Going (actress) Paul Gordon (keyboardist and guitarist for the B-52’s and the Goo Goo Dolls), Kristin Hersh (co-founder of Throwing Muses), P.H. Horgan III (PGA Tour player), Van Johnson (actor), John Mellekas (professional football player), David Narcizo (drummer for the band Throwing Muses), M. Teresa Paiva-Weed (President of the Rhode Island Senate), Jerry Sullivan (sports columnist at The Buffalo News), Noah Jewell (Olympic gymnast).
Claim to Fame: Students have the opportunity to work in The Confucius Classroom, a public educational institute established in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at Bryant University under the sponsorship of Hanban. The classroom is dedicated to developing globally competent students through an understanding Chinese culture, language, and economic trends.
Claim to Fame: Middletown High School has enacted a specific Professional Learning Community in 2013, a program geared to make fundamental shift from focusing on teaching to an area of learning where students and teachers collaborate.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Dr. Thomas DiPaola (Education leader in RI), Henry Nardone, Sr. (Member of URI Foundation, RI Board of Regents), Dennis Algiere (Current RI Senate Minority Leader), Dr. John Toscano, (Chairman of Dept. of Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University), Daryl Finizio (Lawyer, New London Mayoral candidate, Westerly City Council), Peter Lewiss (RI State rep, judge, lawyer) Diana Blanda (Actress/Singer).
Claim to Fame: Scituate High School’s “Schools for Schools” club has raised thousands of dollars for Invisible Children to help Uganda defeat the children soldier crisis there.
Claim to Fame:Famous alumni include Bill Reynolds (Providence Journal Sports Columnist), Phil Madeira (Award-winning Songwriter/Musician), Judy Clapp (Recording Engineer who has worked with Dwight Yoakham and Bill Frisell) Brian Howe (film and television actor) Marceline Hugot (a film, television and Broadway actress) Brett Quigley (PGA golfer) Shanna Moakler (Former Miss USA, Playboy Magazine model and ex-wife of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker/star of MTV’s Meet The Barkers), Spalding Gray (Monologuist/Actor) Matthew Broome (New England Amateur Golf Champion).
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Donald Carcieri (Governor of RI), Suzanne Carcieri (First Lady of RI), Debra Messing (Actress), Mark Zito (Radio Host) and Leeann Tingley (2006 Miss Rhode Island USA).
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include David Cicilline (US Congressman and former Mayor of Providence) and John DeCubellis (lawyer/judge, General Counsel to National Education Association RI).
