The morning began like any other: waking up, eating breakfast, and getting ready for work. But at 6:00 a.m., Alena’s phone buzzed with a text from her boss:
“Stay home. The war has started.”
It was Thursday, February 24, 2022. Russia had just launched an attack on Ukraine. In an instant, everything changed. From that day forward, Alena’s life would be divided into two parts: life before the war, and life after.
Life Before the War
Before the war, Alena lived in Odesa, a beautiful port city resting along the Black Sea. It was there that she found work, got married, and began building her life.
Alena was proud of her city. She worked as a TV and radio journalist and also as a tour guide, sharing her love for Odesa with others. This was more than just the place where she worked.
Odessa was home.
The War that Changed Everything
When Alena and her husband received word that the war had begun, they made the decision to leave the country until it was safe to return. They packed small bags, gathered their documents, and crossed into Moldova. At first, they believed it would be temporary. But as days passed, they realized there was no end in sight.
Four years later, the war still rages on.
“The war is still ongoing, and some of my friends and people I knew have lost their lives because of it. Even now, everything that happened sometimes feels like a bad dream.” Alena says.
When they realized they couldn’t return home to Odesa, they decided to move to their family members who lived in Spokane to start life over again. With little knowledge of the language and culture, they stepped into an unknown world to rebuild what the war destroyed.
Life After the War
Upon arriving in Spokane, Alena found work at a Russian café, where she could speak the language and get by. After the café, she spent two years at Providence in the Food & Nutrition Department, delivering meals to patients and working closely with nurses and hospital staff. It was here that Alena discovered a love for serving those who were sick.
“I love this work because I’m serving others. It’s such a nice feeling. It’s not about money; it’s about the feeling”
This experience inspired Alena to pursue a career in healthcare. But without prior experience she would need help.
Newcomer Career Navigation at World Relief
As Alena began pursuing higher education, her family recommended the Newcomer Career Navigation program through World Relief. This program helps refugees reestablish careers in the United States by providing guidance, financial support, and professional connections.
Through this program, Alena received help navigating new classes, grants to pay for schooling, and even a meeting with a radiology director to explore potential career paths.
“My hope is to complete my education here, continue volunteering, and build the career I have dreamed of—one where I can help others and give back to the community that gave me safety and a new beginning.”
Today, Alena is a pre-nursing student at Spokane Community College, with three prerequisite classes left before she can apply to the Nursing Program. With a 3.87 GPA and having reached level 6 English at Spokane Falls Community College, the sky is truly the limit for Alena.