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Amadu Koroma was only three at the start of the Sierra Leone War, when his uncle carried him on his shoulders as their family fled to Guinea for safety. Though the war ended in 2002, the consequences still affect Koroma, and they motivated him to make the most of his education.

“Most of my life I’ve been guided with the little knowledge that I’ve got,” said Koroma, a 2018  graduate. During his family’s escape, Koroma was separated from his father and never heard from him again.

Because of his father’s absence, Koroma feels he’s missed out on having supportive role models.

“I didn’t have that person [to guide me] and I always feared that if I wasn’t careful, I’d end up doing something that might mislead me in the future,” he said. “I use education as a tool to develop myself in a way that I think will help me to achieve something better.”

His path hasn’t been without challenges. When Koroma won a lottery for high-achieving African students to study in the United States, he said some members of his family discouraged him from taking the opportunity.

But he pressed forward and attended Mason’s  (S-CAR)—a natural fit for the peace and conflict studies degree he was working toward in Africa.

Koroma’s time at Mason was both rewarding and challenging. He said learning how to use computer software and applying analytical thinking to essays differed from the test-taking style he was used to.

“I watched [Koroma] struggle, engage, inquire and thrive [in his transition to a different educational system],” said S-CAR professor . “I was impressed by his commitment to learning, to better understanding conflict and resolution approaches, and his strong engagement in discussions and group projects.” 

“[Maulden] guided me in many ways,” Koroma said, adding that his grades in other courses improved after meeting with her to discuss assignments. He also appreciates the leadership skills he gained as an intern for the , where he organized events and was a public face for the program.

Now that he’s graduated, Koroma wants to work for an institution addressing human rights issues, and he knows the skills he gained at Mason will be important.

“Negotiation and facilitation skills are something I have learned in my classes,” Koroma said. “And the [internship was] an opportunity for me to put that into practical experience.