There are moments in life that divide everything into before and after. For Zahra Arshadi, that moment came far too early. Her early years were shaped by profound loss and an unshakable promise to keep moving forward, even when the weight of grief felt overwhelming. Those experiences would come to define not only her resilience but the purpose that continues to guide her life today.
When Zahra arrived at Randolph-Macon Academy, she did not simply enroll in a private military school; she found a place where she was seen, supported, and embraced as part of a family. What followed was a journey of healing, growth, and rediscovered hope, rooted in a community that believes education is not just about learning, but about belonging.
From Loss in Afghanistan to a Life-Altering Turning Point
“I was born and raised in Afghanistan, and I lived there for 17 years. I loved everything about Afghanistan,” Zahra shared. In 2018, that life was shattered. An explosion took the lives of 65 of her classmates and her brother. “I still have that picture in my mind of that class. Everything was covered in blood. I thought everything was over.”
In the aftermath, grief was overwhelming and unrelenting. “For a year, I thought everything was over,” Zahra said. “People say that time will always heal your pains, but it never healed my pains.” The memories never faded, but instead of breaking her, they became her reason to keep going. “Those memories are what are keeping me going.”
Standing beside her brother’s casket, Zahra made a promise that would shape her future. “I promised him that I will keep going for his dreams and for the dreams of my classmates.” With that promise guiding her, she began searching for a way forward, beyond borders, beyond loss, beyond everything she had known.
Finding Hope and Belonging at Randolph-Macon Academy
That path led her to Randolph-Macon Academy.
Determined to continue her education, Zahra searched for schools outside Afghanistan. One unexpected phone call changed everything. “I got a phone call. It was from R-MA. They said that my tuition is paid, and they’re just waiting for me.”
On September 1, 2021, Zahra arrived on campus. What she felt was immediate and unmistakable. “I looked around, and I was like, this place is where I belong.”At this private military school, Zahra found more than academic opportunity. She found safety. She found stability. And, most importantly, she found people who saw her not just as a student, but as family.
Support That Feels Like Family at R-MA Private Military School
CMSGT Mary Gamache remembers meeting Zahra clearly. “When I met Zahra last year, she needed some type of support, and it was my joy to help her.” That support quickly became something deeper. “I think she actually felt like she’d found a new family, an extended family.”
For Zahra, that connection showed her what R-MA is about. “Chief Gamache is like a mom to me,” she said. “She helped me through bad days. She was there to cheer for me on good days.” Reflecting on her experience, Zahra added, “That is what R-MA is about. It doesn’t matter which background you are coming from. If you’re part of this family, they will do anything for you.”
Character, Leadership, and the Power of Community
This sense of care and belonging is central to life at R-MA and is reinforced through the school’s character and leadership program, where students are supported, challenged, and uplifted as individuals. As CMSGT Gamache explained, “It takes a village to be able to help, and that’s exactly what we’ve done here.”
With that support behind her, Zahra began to dream again, not just for herself, but for others. “After my brother died, I always wanted to have a library in his name,” she shared. “I realized I can help girls back home.” Alongside a friend, Zahra made that dream real. “I ended up making this library.” She described the impact with quiet pride: “The help that girls are getting, reading, learning English, learning math; it’s a dream coming true.”
A Future Shaped by Belonging and Gratitude
Looking back, Zahra sees how far she has come and how much R-MA has shaped her journey. “I feel like I’m delivering on that promise I made to my brother,” she said. “Had I not come to R-MA, it would not have been possible for me to be the person who I am right now.”
Her gratitude is profound and deeply felt: “None of these opportunities that I have would have been possible if I weren’t part of this family. I’m so happy, and I’m blessed to be here.”
At Randolph-Macon Academy, students don’t just receive an education; they find belonging, purpose, and a second family. For Zahra, R-MA became the place where loss transformed into hope, and where a young woman found not only her future, but her home at our boarding school in Virginia.
Watch Zahra’s inspiring and emotional journey here!
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