When Ahmed Omer started at Cosgrove High School in Hobart's northern suburbs, he knew very little English.
The 16-year-old said he initially experienced some racist comments and "dirty looks" from other students.
"Students didn't really understand where I came from and what was my story," he said.
But three years later, he is school captain, helping to stamp out racism and passionate about sharing his story.
Ahmed says he starts each day early with prayers and his faith is something that inspires him to help others.
It has been a constant in his life, even as he fled conflict and lost both of his parents at a young age.
He was about eight years old when he left his home of Oromia in Ethiopia with his mother.
He said life in Oromia had been good until conflict between his ethnic group and others, as well as conflict between Ethiopia and other countries, took a toll.
"Kids would get shot and there was no safety at all," he said.
"I didn't even get the chance to say bye to my friends, we just had to leave the country immediately … it was just me and [Mum]."
Ahmed and his mother spent a couple of months in Sudan, then made a dangerous journey into Egypt.
"It took about seven days or eight … we didn't have enough food, there was not enough drinks," Ahmed said.
"We had to walk at times … there was about 24 of us on a Toyota Hilux and it was really speeding in the desert where if someone falls off, no-one could really stop for you, so it was a hard journey.
"It was either we survive or we don't."
Ahmed said it was a big decision for his mother.
'I always dream of her sitting next to me'
When they arrived in Egypt, Ahmed's mother started applying to the United Nations' refugee agency. They stayed in Egypt for a few years, but Ahmed said his mother got sick.
His cousin, Juhaar, made a similar journey from Ethiopia to Egypt to look after her aunt.
"My mum passed away in 2015," Ahmed said.
"Me and my mum [were] really close. I couldn't even sleep alone; she used to be next to me every time.
"I always dream of her sitting next to me, me driving and all of that sort of stuff but I didn't have that opportunity and all I can do right now is pray for her.
The application Ahmed's mother made to the UN led to him being able to come to Australia with Juhaar, and they now call Hobart home.
"I was given the opportunity to be adopted, but I chose to stay with my cousin and live with her because my cousin is the one who reminds me of who I am, my identity, my religion and all the values that I have.
"Juhaar, she lost her mum when she was young, she lost her dad as well … My mum looked after her, she was like my older sister."
"[Juhaar] is always the person I go to if I need advice."
Ahmed is also living his life in Hobart with a childhood friend, Obsa Shafee, by his side.
The two went to primary school together in Oromia, and met up again in Egypt.
"I … prayed that we were going to go to the same city, same country, everything," Ahmed said.
"Obsa has an extraordinary story as well, he's been through a similar journey."
Leader in the making
Ahmed's experiences at Cosgrove High School are very different from when he started three years ago.
He and other migrant students worked together on a plan to help stamp out racism at their school.
"We told our stories, how we got to Australia and what it meant for us, and then we had a pledge that they sign — a promise that 'I will stop racism,'" he said.
"I feel welcome and really, really part of my school community now.
He said the school's assistant principal, David Bryant, had been a wonderful mentor.
"I really value all the advice that he gave me … He was the male mentor because I didn't have the male mentor in my life."
Ahmed said he loved giving back to his school community, and to the wider community.
He is a mentor for JCP Youth, an organisation that works with young people who are at risk, in need, or who need help developing their leadership skills and motivation.
A source of hope and goodness
Ahmed regularly attends Friday prayers at Hobart's mosque.
"The religion of Islam is where I got all my good values from. It is basically something that gives me a hope every day to go out in the community," he said.
"I'm really proud of my stories, I know I've been through a lot, and times were really hard and difficult but it didn't last very long … God actually didn't put me through what I've been through unless he knew that I had the ability to go through it."
After coming to Australia, Ahmed managed to track down his father, but he was sick at the time and two days later he died.
"I was hoping that I would have had the opportunity to at least do something good for my dad and appreciate all the hard work that he and my mum have done for me, but I didn't get that opportunity," he said.
