We simply cannot close this year without sharing this extraordinary story.
This week, two members of the LE.O community—still living in Gaza—became doctors. In the midst of devastation, we must pause to honor and celebrate them.
From the very beginning, the odds were stacked against them. A young woman and a young man born to families of day laborers, they had little except determination and brilliance. Their exceptional Tawjihi scores opened the door to medical school, and six years ago they were brought to our attention. We welcomed them into the LE.O family and committed to walking alongside them.
Week after week, we stayed in close contact. They quickly became part of our broader student community—sharing their lives, their studies, and their dreams, forging friendships that crossed borders. They spoke honestly of their fears living through repeated episodes of military violence throughout their studies: no household income, scarce food, interrupted education, constant unease. And still, they persevered. They attended every LE.O gathering in Gaza, even meeting visiting board members who came to know them not just as students, but as remarkable young people.
Then came the genocide.
Instead of retreating, they stepped forward. Even while displaced, they worked in hospitals, tending to their people in unimaginable conditions. They endured the loss of family members, friends, neighbors, homes, and all sense of stability. Their families were forced to move again and again—more times than we can count. And yet, amid grief and chaos, they continued to study. They held fast to their purpose. They refused to let their future be taken from them.
This week, they crossed the finish line.
They are doctors.
Their achievement is not only a personal triumph—it is a testament to Sumud (resilience), to community, and to what becomes possible when talent is met with belief and support. We are profoundly honored to have walked beside them on this journey, and thank you all for making it possible.
Against all odds, they did it.
