Emily Goldberg ’12
Web News Editor

At least 100 additional students and teachers filled the library for Sudanese refugee, Gabriel Bol Deng’s presentation during the lunch waves on April 27. Not only did students fill the seating the library staff set up for the presentation, but others were forced to resort to sitting on nearby tables due to the mass amount of students present for Bol Deng’s appearance.

During the hour presentation Bol Deng told students about his experiences as he fled his country at age 10 during the Sudanese Civil War. He told of his journeys throughout Africa before arriving in the United States as a refugee.

After experiencing tragedies and horrors in his country, Bol Deng now takes advantage of the opportunities he has to speak to people about what he has been through, and how he was able to get through it all.

“My hope is that when people have their own problems, or mountains as I call them, they will be able to over come them and move those mountains by remembering to be resilient, positive, and to always have hope as I did,” Bol Deng said.

His main goal is to educate people about the situation in Sudan which Bol Deng says many are, absolutely “clueless” about.

As well as public speaking, Bol Deng also spreads awareness through the non-profit organization he has started, Hope for Ariang, as well as the film he has made called Rebuilding Hope.

Most importantly Bol Deng urged students to take their education seriously as many Sudanese children are not lucky enough to receive an education at all.

“If kids do not take their education seriously they will not only be failing their classes but failing America. America needs hardworking people to give back to their community,” he said.