Egypt native gladly serves his new country

Ehab Mustafa, who served in the U.S. Army, is a licensed counselor and director of the Veterans Center at Lee College.

“I’m originally from Egypt. But ever since I was a kid, I was a big fan of American movies. My dream was always to come here one day.

“When I was in my mid-20s, I had my bachelor’s degree in accounting but the job market in Egypt wasn’t that great. So I decided to make the move to the United States for a better future.

“I had about $300 in my pocket when I arrived. A lot of people expected me to turn around and go back home within a few months, but I stayed and haven’t been back since.

“In 1999, I joined the military. Everybody thought it was because I wanted to gain my citizenship by serving. But I had already earned my citizenship. I knew that the military here was voluntary, but I wanted to join. As a new citizen of the United States, I felt it was my civic duty to serve my country. I didn’t think I should just come here to enjoy all the freedoms and civil liberties without giving anything back. And I’ve never regretted that decision.”