Personal Narrative: The President Of Syria

Imagine if one man destroyed the life you were accustomed to. In my case, this man was the president of Syria. Tensions in nearby Middle-Eastern countries had finally spilled over into Syria in 2011. People were tired of their so-called democratic government acting as a dictatorship. The rule in Syria at the time had been “speak out against the government and disappear.” No one could take this any longer, so the fighting began. March of 2011, my fifth-grade year, the life I had once known officially ended. I had been young and carefree, but the Syrian Civil War crushed my innocence and put a weight on my shoulders that still stands to this day. Almost every summer of my childhood had been spent in Syria, roaming the busy streets and shops with my dearest cousins, aunts, and uncles. The summer of 2010 was the most memorable summer of my life. I spent hours and hours with my family going new places, eating amazing food, and playing endless games. This

Over 500,000 people have already died from the war. I am still heartbroken. My entire family has become refugees, mainly in Europe. Just last year, I would hear from my mother in the morning that another aunt or uncle had attempted the treacherous trip across the sea to Europe. My whole school day would be spent worrying about whether or not my family would survive. Would I return home to a repeat episode of what happened when my cousin died? Luckily, my family made it safely to Europe. Yet I feel anger every time I hear anyone say that refugees should not be allowed into other countries. That is my family that they are abandoning. My family that risked their lives in hopes for a safe haven. Hearing of my aunt and her ten-year old daughter running away from police in Hungary to make it across the border, trying to make it to a better life, has made me lose faith in our leaders. They have done nothing for the Syrian people or the millions of displaced Syrian