Illia Ishchenko-Leshchynskyi, 14, from Kyiv, Ukraine tPalisades Charter High School.

(Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times)

From the Los Angeles Times: Illia Ishchenko-Leshchynskyi, 14, is a new student at Palisades Charter High School. Until about a month ago, Illia lived in Kyiv. Not that long ago, says 14-year-old Illia, “I woke up with the sound of rockets.”His father is still home in Ukraine, defending his country against the Russian invasion. His mother and little brother fled to Romania.

“I’m trying to call my family every day, but it’s not possible,” said Illia, who left Ukraine on a bus and kept going, landing in Los Angeles almost three weeks ago to stay with family.

On Monday morning, he enrolled at Palisades Charter High School.

“I see these kids, these teenagers here. It looks pretty good,” said Illia, who spent half a day registering at Pali and getting to know his way around a campus that sits on a perch above the ocean. Such a beautiful, tranquil setting for a young lad whose country is in flames.

Illia is taking P.E., biology, algebra, English and study skills. With his shaggy hair, loose athletic clothing and high-top sneakers, he looked like just another kid on campus.

Full story: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/column-kyiv-palisades-charter-high-120052971.html

Aura’s Thoughts: I trust have been stressful and heart wrenching to hear to the sound of rockets in Illia’s hometown. The transition from Kyiv, Ukraine to Los Angeles must have been stressful. It is essential to understand the difficulties of digesting that the country he had to leave behind was in flames.