Onumba.com – She was laughed at, but look who’s got the last laugh now.

Alfreda Koroma.

Koroma’s epic accomplishments against all odds have earned her accolades and turned her story into an inspiration for others. A Sierra Leonean native, Koroma moved to the United States to join her father in 2015, her departure coinciding with the time that the Ebola epidemic was ravaging the West African country of nearly five million.

Much like other Africans coming to the United States for the first time, the then 13-year old Koroma, now 16, was excited about the myriad opportunity, fun and the good life awaiting her. She was most of all though elated about the chance to reunite with her father who left the family for America when she was 2 years old.

But then, soon after she started school, she was astonished at how mean-spiritedly she was treated by fellow students. Before you knew it, her once ballooning excitement deflated as enthusiasm ceded to dismay.

“People [at school] were so mean to me about my culture, about Africa. They just think Africa is one country,” said Koroma. “They’d make jokes about where I’m from, about my scarf, about my clothes.”

The bullying, the taunting, and the selfish schandenfreude at her expense started at Medina Middle School and followed her to Mifflin High School. But at Mifflin, she resolved not to become a cowering milquetoast succumbing to the hauteur and ignorance of others, deciding instead to focus on her studies and become involved in various school activities.

Koroma joined the school’s International Club, a cabal of students whose mission is to celebrate the culture of their home countries.  She also became a member of the Model United Nations and the National Honor Society, where she established connection with like-minded orbit of students.

It goes without saying, it’s been quite a journey for Koroma. From the despair of her Ebola experience to the culture shock and lonesomeness of residing in a foreign land to the torment of being bullied and mocked by those who made fun of her accent and skin color, 16-year old Koroma has emerged flourishing with a future as bright as a Gemini pollux.

Koroma recently graduated from high school and now headed to The Ohio State University where she will major in nursing.

Koroma’s storied perseverance has not gone unnoticed. She was one of the five recipients of the 2019 Children’s Defense Fund – Ohio Beat the Odds Scholarship award.  Three criteria were used to pick these high school recipients including academic performance, overcoming adversity and the spirit of giving.  The award comes stuffed with plum goodies including $5000, a laptop and plenty of opportunities to participate in leadership programs.

The assistant director of operations and fundraising for the Children’s Defense Fund Pam Kreber spoke of why Koroma was deserving of the award.

She was at the “top of the list” after every step of reviewing applications for the scholarship, said Kreber, stressing her “resilience” as one thing that “stood out” about her.

Kreber added: “There was no bemoaning her adversity or hardships or challenges, which were so significant.” “There’s also this joy that emanates from her, and that is unusual.”

It was all thumbs up for Koroma, but none of this is surprising to one of her teachers, Rebecca Moore, who noted that she was her “go-to” student and a “positive force who could pull other students up with her.”

And speaking of pulling folks up, Koroma is still doing that. She is paying it all forward through a GoFundMe initiative she established early this year to support students back in Sierra Leone.

She was one of them not too long ago.

“Growing up, I didn’t have everything,” Koroma said. “We had to fend for ourselves to get what we needed. I want to help kids feel cared for and safe.”

Koroma, whose project has helped about 400 students in Sierra Leone this year, was recently honored at the Columbus Museum of Art, along with other award recipients.