By Ken Scar
To hear Said Pasoon describe it, where he grew up was like paradise. “Nangarhar is one of the greenest provinces in Afghanistan,” he says. “It has four seasons, tall mountains, freshwater rivers and is popular for its olive and sweet orange produce.”
Pasoon. Photo provided.
His father worked as a construction manager for a canal system that fed orange and olive farms, and his mother was a teacher and later director of Farm Hada High School. When the Taliban took over the country in 1996, both were fired from their jobs.
Threats to their security, coupled with the lack of proper education and restriction of females from school, forced Pasoon’s parents to leave their home. With his three brothers and three sisters, they moved over the Hindu Kush mountains into Peshawar, Pakistan.
After U.S. and NATO troops took control of Afghanistan in 2002, Pasoon returned to his home country to attend Paktia University in Gardez and earn a medical degree. In the meantime, his older sister Naheeda married and moved to Atlanta. The rest of the family followed her to the United States, but Pasoon’s visa was delayed because he was older than 21. He followed his dream of becoming a doctor, getting his doctor of medicine degree in 2014. Pasoon served as a doctor of internal medicine focusing on infectious diseases at a government hospital for more than two years.
After seven years of waiting, Pasoon was granted a visa to join his family in the U.S. in 2016. “My sister, Naheeda,had lived in Georgia since 1996, and brought my parents here, so this is where I came. Georgia gives me internal happiness with its green nature since it reminds me of Nangarhar.”
Soon after he and his family were safely settled into their new home in Snellville, he realized that the knowledge and experience he had attained through years of dedicated work in Afghanistan did not all translate to the medical field in America.
“Many variations exist between the medical practice of Afghanistan and that of the United States,” he says. “In addition, language and cultural barriers added to my challenges. I researched options and eventually found my way to Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC).”
It was soon apparent that to continue practicing medicine, he would have to step out of the role of doctor and become a nurse. Pasoon entered GGC’s nursing program in January 2019. After a year of delays due to COVID-19, during which he lost his father to the virus, he is set to graduate with his first U.S. degree, a Bachelor of Science in nursing.
“Getting my nursing degree from Georgia Gwinnett College will allow me to become a culturally competent and caring nurse. I believe that if I can save one life, it’s as if I have saved the whole of mankind.”
Pasoon and his wife, Behishta, have two children, ages 6 and 18 months. She is training to become a medical assistant. They enjoy hiking and exploring in Georgia, and plan to celebrate Pasoon’s graduation by visiting national parks in other states.
After receiving his degree, Pasoon will be a registered nurse in the emergency department of Northside Hospital and complete six months of residency, working toward his long-term goal of earning a master’s degree in adult critical care. He also hopes to be a teacher of human anatomy, physiology and pathology.
Multiple activities going on at Norcross gallery
Norcross Gallery and Studios has multiple activities going on in December. It is offering a silent auction of new artworks, all in a square format, by Norcross Gallery members. It is a fundraiser to benefit the gallery and support many community outreach events including Norcross high school student exhibit, Annandale Village, People Making Progress, and a popular citywide photography exhibit. Bids are accepted all month long with final bids due December 9 from 2–4 p.m.
Artist of the Month: Traci Dickson, fine art photographer, will show her work at 45 South Café from December 1 – 26. Her exuberant photos reflect her awe of nature.
Paint with Fabric Workshop led by Gail Lenahan teaches her unique fabric collage techniques.
Small Works exhibit: During December and January will feature affordable small original art suitable for gift giving.
Kettlebrock Brewery is displaying art works by Lucy Brady during December. The paintings are of locations in our National Parks, our peaceful retreats from the chaos of the world today.
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