Let's pause to take a look at what still works in America. Oh, and thank a teacher.

[MindPilot]

Refugee Student Shares Journey from Civil War to San Diego Classroom

{Editor's Note: The following was written by 17-year-old Hussien Mumin for City Heights Life, a new print publication funded by Price Charities. Scroll to the bottom to read in in Somali, Mumin's first language.}

I was born in 1993 in Somalia. My family owned a farm, which helped us live a stable life. I will always remember running outside, smelling the fresh fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, bananas, and lettuce. This type of atmosphere made me feel humble and grateful for what I had in life. I remember one season it was raining hard almost every day, and my dad was worried about something, but I did not know what. One month later, a huge flood came toward our city, and my family and I had to evacuate our house. A few days later, we found out our farm was hit. This was not good because my mom was pregnant. My feelings were unexplainable because we had to start over. My childhood was destroyed.

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As years went by in elementary school, my teachers supported me and made sure my reading, speaking, and writing levels improved. This made me feel that America was built on love and liberty because of the way my teachers cared for me. America will always have a place in my heart because it gave me opportunities and helped me achieve many things that I thought I was not capable of.

http://www.speakcityheights.org/2011/06/refugee-student-shares-journey-from-civil-war-to-san-diego-classroom/