“I Am So Grateful to Be Here:” Grace Cyzia’s Journey from Zambia to UNO’s College of Business Administration

Forced to flee conflict in Burundi and later the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Grace Cyzia and her family sought refuge in Zambia and lived as refugees for much of her life. Her life was marked by uncertainty, as resettlement opportunities are rare and often come without guarantees.

"Resettlement is a hard process. You never know if your application will be accepted, and you don't get to choose where you're going," Cyzia explained.

After years of interviews and waiting, Grace and her family finally received the call that changed their lives: They were coming to the United States. Finally, in September 2022, the family arrived in Omaha.

“They told us two weeks before we were to leave that we were going to Omaha, Nebraska. And we had never heard of this place. But I am so grateful to be here,” Cyzia said.

Adjusting to a New World:
The transition wasn't easy. Grace’s enrollment at Benson High School faced delays as her family secured housing. The unfamiliar American education system presented challenges, such as difficulty translating academic transcripts into a GPA format. Initially classified as a sophomore, Grace worked with her guidance counselor to explain her previous coursework.

Thanks to her efforts, she was reclassified as a senior and even landed in Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Soon, it was time to consider what was next, and for Grace, that meant going to college.

“The college application process here is so different from Zambia, and I had no idea where to start,” she said.

Grace’s older siblings had all pursued careers in the medical field, and their example motivated her, but the cost of college in the United States worried her. She worked with a counselor from the College Possible group, who helped her complete her FAFSA and explore scholarship opportunities.

“I thought it would be impossible to go to college and was scared because it was so expensive,” she said. “In my mind, I only thought about going to UNO. UNO is close to home and has amazing programs. The thing that solidified my choice was getting the Goodrich scholarship. And I am so grateful for it.”

Grace is now a sophomore at UNO where she is pursuing dual concentrations in human resource management and economics in the College of Business Administration.

"The versatility of business excites me. It offers a path to work for others or even start something of my own," she shared.

Looking Ahead:
Inspired by the lawyer who helped with her family's resettlement case, Grace hasn’t ruled out pursuing law school.

"Law school is still on the table. Seeing what that lawyer did for my family made me want to help others like she helped us," Cyzia said. “I’m still so grateful for everything—being here [at UNO] and for everything that has been done for my family.”