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Syrian refugee Yazan Kassab, 13, responded to a writing prompt about a mystery door by describing coming to the United States and what was behind the plane door.
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Young Syrian refugee's arrival in U.S. inspires standout essay in Toledo

THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH

Young Syrian refugee's arrival in U.S. inspires standout essay in Toledo

Yazan Kassab: ‘I knew my life would change’

Thirteen-year-old Yazan Kassab chose to tell a personal story when he submitted his entry for the library’s annual essay contest.

Responding to the writing prompt “What’s behind the mystery door?” Yazan ruminated on a life-changing memory still fresh in his mind: the moment the plane door opened to reveal his new life in the United States.

For his work, the young Syrian refugee and Elmhurst Elementary seventh grader won third place in his age division in the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library’s Ruth Blank Venner and Mary Jane Blank McCormick essay contest.

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RELATED CONTENT: The Door, by Yazan Kassab

Yazan recalls in his essay how nerves overtook him during what was his first time on an airplane, causing him to get sick in the cabin’s tiny bathroom. But he also describes the joy of realizing the freedom to go to school, take selfies, and be a kid in the United States.

“On the other side of the door, I knew my life would change,” he wrote. “I would be like a snake shedding its skin.”

A panel of 18 judges surveyed 1,098 entries this year, said library spokesman Ben Malczewski. 

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Judges chose 36 winners and honorable mentions in four age categories.

The Kassabs left Homs, Syria, in February, 2012, and fled to Jordan. The family, which includes his parents and three younger siblings, arrived in Toledo in October, 2015, after several flights and many hours of travel — exhausted but eager to begin a new life.

“I wrote about a plane door that made me free to do anything that I want,” he said of his essay. “I thought about this airplane door. I love to write and make [up] titles.”

It’s an impressive essay for a student who knew only a handful of English words when arriving in Toledo, said Yazan’s teacher, Jennifer Williams.

“He’s come so far from his first writing piece,” she said. “He’s made such tremendous improvements and of course that’s exciting. He came to me excited to learn and excited to be here. He’s willing to learn and ask for help.”

Many students took a fantastical approach to the “mystery door” prompt, said Angela Bronson, children’s librarian at Kent Branch Library and a member of the committee for the essay contest.

“That’s why his stood out; it went the opposite way of most of the essays,” she said. “It was full out heartache and shows empathy.”

Jimmy Kleshinski of Springfield Middle School and Timothy Rohr of Anthony Wane Junior High School took first and second place in the 6th-8th grade category where Yazan placed third.

Winning essays will be available to read for library card holders at toledo.overdrive.com. A reception honoring the winners will be today in the McMaster Center at Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St., with grades K-5 at 2 p.m. and 6-12 at 3:30 p.m.

Contact Lauren Lindstrom at llindstrom@theblade.com, 419-724-6154, or on Twitter @lelindstrom.

First Published May 6, 2017, 4:00 a.m.

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Syrian refugee Yazan Kassab, 13, responded to a writing prompt about a mystery door by describing coming to the United States and what was behind the plane door.  (THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH)  Buy Image
Rami Kassab and his wife, Hala Nasr, listen as their son Yazan Kassab discusses his essay for a Toledo-Lucas County Public Library contest. The Kassab family, which includes Yazan’s three younger sisters, left Homs, Syria, in February, 2012, and fled to Jordan.  (THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH)  Buy Image
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