Polina Fomenko

Polina and Varvara exemplify what it means to persevere despite the circumstances. These two sisters fled the conflict in Ukraine and lived in Poland for a year before arriving in the United States in December. They escaped with their grandmother and unfortunately had to leave their parents and younger sibling behind. Despite the challenges, these girls are always smiling and have adjusted very well, never complaining. They are very responsible, have learned English quickly, and are even learning Spanish. At home they help their grandmother with translating and even though they don’t have computers at home and use their grandmother’s phone to do their online work, they never make excuses and never fail to complete their work. Despite the challenges, these girls demonstrate dedication, commitment to school, and an eagerness to learn and grow that will surely lead them on a path towards success.