Where I Come From
Growing up in the countryside of Ouezzane Province, opportunities were scarce — especially for those of us from small villages. Scholarships existed that nobody knew about. International programs were open — but the doors were invisible to us.
I decided early that I would not just find those doors myself. I would hold them open for everyone who came after me. From an active high school student, to an emerging leader at university, to co-founding a community association, and eventually boarding a plane to Minnesota for the first time — every step of my journey has been shaped by curiosity, ambition, and the desire to create impact. Each experience became more than a personal achievement; it became a tool I could bring back and share with others.
Today, I am a bilingual teacher, researcher, regional liaison volunteer, podcast host, and community builder. But before all of those titles, I am simply someone from Johra, Zoumi who refused to believe that where you are born should determine how far you can go.
I have always believed that talent and potential in rural communities can be just as strong as anywhere else. What is often missing is not ambition — it is access, information, guidance, mentorship, and the small push that helps someone take the first step.
That belief continues to shape everything I do: discover opportunities, learn from them, and then make the path clearer for those coming after me.
Every door I walked through,
I left open
— Mohamed El Khouaja · Zoumi, Morocco
"I didn't wait for someone to open a door.
I built one. Then I left it open
for everyone behind me."