Rokhsar and Muzhgan Seerat

Folsom Cordova Adult School

Nominated in 2024

When 24-year-old Afghan twins Muzhgan and Rokhsar Seerat came to America to make a life for themselves, they not only had to face language and educational barriers, but also the uncertainty of the global pandemic. “I remember we were totally covered up,” said Muzhgan. “A face mask because of COVID and our head scarves. We arrived with no English, no proof of education, no driver’s license, no transportation, and no understanding of the culture. We had to start at the beginning.!”

So they did. As clients in the Refugee Grant Program at Folsom Cordova Adult School, they enrolled in beginning ESL and began searching for work almost right away. By faithfully attending their classes, they soon learned enough English to get part-time jobs. In addition to beginning English, they took a computer basics class and an additional Vocational ESL class online.

“We learned English and skills,” said Rokhsar. “We met friends and we got training and a job.” But they didn’t stop there. The twins worked with a Refugee Youth Coach at the Folsom Cordova Family Partnership Job Center, part of the America’s Job Center network, co-located on the adult school campus. The coach knew the girls were interested in the medical field and found out about a paid medical assistant training program at WellSpace in Rancho Cordova.

The only thing that stood in their way was the fact that the training was all in English. But that did not stop them, and when the training became difficult their coaching in the Refugee Program taught them to advocate for themselves and seek out the tutoring and support they needed to make it through the program. “Now we are working at WellSpace clinics full-time as medical assistants, helping others,” said Rokhsar. “One of us works with children and the other with adults. We work very hard, and we have to take the bus to work every day, so it’s long days, but we are lucky.” Their long days include riding the train to and from work, which adds several hours to each workday.

The twins attribute their success, in large part, to the support and education they received from Folsom Cordova Adult School and the FCCP Job Center. “The adult school was very good because it taught us English, which helped us get accepted into the training that landed our career,” said Muzhgan. “We are in a real career! When we see other Afghan young women like us who came from Afghanistan at the same time, we can see that they have not come as far. Right now, we are so happy.”

Never shying away from hard work, they say they miss the adult school and are planning to come back for more classes at night to continue to develop their English proficiency. “We miss our teachers,” said Roksar. “We tell people all about how good the adult school is. They have great programs. The teachers are very good. All the workers at the school and job center are very supportive and believe in us.”

Always filled with that determined spirit, the girls shared that they want to go on to become nurses and doctors one day. “There are great opportunities for people who want them!” said Rokhsar.