Ehsan’s story: seeking self-sufficiency and following his dreams

In Afghanistan, 20-year-old Ehsan was a student at a medical college and worked as a medical assistant. His aspirations have always been to become a doctor. In everyday life, his family used their car to get between school, work, and appointments. 

Ehsan arrived in the United States from Afghanistan in August 2024 with his mother, his father, and two sisters. They were part of the ECDC – Houston Multicultural Center’s Reception and Placement program, and made their home in Southwest Houston. Ehsan’s first impression when he arrived in Houston was that “the streets were empty of people but full of vehicles,” – and that it was hot! Dependence on public transportation in Houston has been a great challenge to the whole family.

When Ehsan arrived in the United States, he was determined to become self-sufficient and learn to navigate the bus system on his own. He learned the numbers of the routes that would get him to where he needed to go, as he searched for work and enrolled in college courses. The buses weren’t always on time, and he learned that to get somewhere by 7 a.m., he’d need to be waiting by 6 a.m. 

He had a successful online interview with a medical supply company in Sugar Land, but when they asked him to come in person for a follow-up interview, he realized he didn’t have a viable option to get there on time and lost out on the opportunity.

Despite these initial challenges, Ehsan persisted and found his first job working in a store in the Texas Medical Center. He still found it challenging to arrive on time, and in order to avoid that tardiness, he began arriving 30 minutes to an hour early to work. Ehsan was thrilled when his case manager called him to let him know that Freewheels had a bicycle for him. He was so happy to have a means of transportation of his own, so that he could be less dependent on Houston’s bus system. 

Ehsan has a new job at the YMCA as a youth development counselor, and he enjoys supporting the youth of his community. He is able to get himself there along the Brays Bayou trail that runs right near his apartment complex. He is currently enrolled in Houston Community College classes within the Medical Center. Although he has not yet committed to riding the full 10 miles along Brays Bayou,  he knows it is now a viable and safe option for him. 

In two years, upon the completion of his studies, Ehsan will be qualified to be a surgical technician and one step closer to his dream of being a doctor. His bicycle makes everything in his life more accessible. Life is faster than before, when he was always walking or waiting: He can get places more quickly and on time. 

Ehsan is grateful to Freewheels for this resource and he thinks that for anyone who has a bicycle they don’t use, it’s a great idea to donate it: “If you don’t need something, other people might!”