Raz says she has left her future prospects more open, but adds that she believes in the potential of the group’s members as they enter their future careers.

“[The Afghan Students Initiative] helps to shape our vision for the future of Afghanistan,” Raz says. “It encourages me about the future of our country because I have a hope that these students will make a change for Afghanistan.”

These ambitions are typical of the students who participate in the Afghan Students Initiative, Dhillon says.

“These students are bringing knowledge to the development of Afghanistan, not force,” Dhillon says. “They are highly motivated, highly educated young Afghans who want to try to use their experiences in a positive way to move forward into the future.”

—Staff writer Andrew Z. Lorey can be reached at alorey@college.harvard.edu.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

CORRECTION: April 3, 2010

An earlier version of the April 1 news article "Afghan Students Join HKS Group" incorrectly stated that Harvard Law School currently enrolls only one Afghan student. In fact, there are currently two Afghan students at HLS, according to HLS student Saeeq Shajjan.