After escaping not one but two Middle Eastern wars in Syria and Lebanon, Carla Salameh and her family settled here in Huntsville.
Carla lives with her younger sister Lana, mother Raeda, and father Rami. The Salameh family moved to Huntsville in November of 2016 after losing everything including their home.
Rami’s sister, who sponsored the Salamehs to gain refugee status in Canada, lives in Huntsville but the rest of their family members still live in Syria.
When the family settled in Huntsville, the girls went straight to school and Rami and Raeda began their job search immediately. Rami now works 12-hour days at the post office and Raeda works at Tim Horton’s and takes English classes on her two days off a week.
“We came to Canada with nothing so we had to find a way to live right away. We still don’t have much but we’re getting there. We love Huntsville because it has such a friendly small-town feel,” said Rami.
Education has always been Carla’s biggest passion and ever since she was little she knew she wanted to help others through the path of medicine.
“If you graduate high school in Syria or Lebanon, the chance of getting a job, let alone one you like, is so difficult,” said Carla. “After seeing what people went through back home it only drove me further to pursue my dreams.”
Just after her prom, Carla learned that she had received two $9,000 scholarships to both Laurentian and Trent Universities to pursue BioMedical Science.
To get to where she is, Carla has studied every day and night of her high school career.
“I work as a cashier at Metro on the weekends but before and after school are for studying. During mid-terms and exam season I was up till 3 a.m. every night and my mom was always downstairs by my side for support,” said Carla.
She says she owes so much to not only her parents but also to her teachers at Huntsville High School.
“Ms. Phillips, Mrs. Burgess, Mr. Climenhaga, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Williams and my guidance counsellor Alison Myers were such incredible supports,” said Carla. “They taught me everything about applying and were always there to help me through both learning and the university process.”
On top of her passion for science, Carla also excels at French and received the award for highest French mark at her graduation.
Carla plans to study for a total of 12 years with the end goal of becoming a brain surgeon.
“She worked so hard to get here,” said Rami. “She deserves this and I am so proud of her, more than she will ever know.”
Carla’s sister Lana is going into grade 11 and also plans to pursue science in post-secondary in hopes of becoming a dentist.
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I hope all the best for you ….my krkr
Wow! A great photo and great write up about my wonderful neighbours. I cried when I read it! I have experienced and witnessed, first hand, all the descriptions of your hard work, dedication, commitment and love. We LOVE having you as neighbours and feel very privileged to share bits of your journey, as we continue to keep live out our friendship.
Much love,
Congratulations Carla on all your hard work and dedication. What a very proud moment for you and your family. Rami is a pleasure to work with and I hope to meet you and the rest of the family. What an incredible example of what hard work and perseverance can do. All the best!!
Congratulations on your intelligent and dedicated daughters, Rami and Raeda.
You have done a fabulous job raising them in such difficult crcumstances.
Way to go, Carla! Success in all of your future studies!!
Congratulations Carla, the world is your oyster. I’m so happy for you.
What a wonderful story of dedication and perseverance. It shows what we take for granted in our country. Carla deserves every great thing that is coming her way.