As a teacher, she seeks to inspire students to embrace the diversity of people in the world.<\/p>\n
Bior, 37, has journaled about her refugee experience and relocation to America in preparation for publishing a memoir. She realized one chapter about surviving challenges as a young person would make a good children\u2019s book.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been wanting to write my story for the longest time,\u201d she said in an interview Thursday. \u201cIn this book, I describe the challenges of my childhood, and use colors as metaphors for how we choose to view others and events.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead of viewing people of African decent through prejudice, she teaches to see Black as beautiful. Instead of seeing red as war and hate, view the color as love.<\/p>\n
Colors can have opposite meanings, Bior said, \u201cand it is up to us see the side that is good because it will lead to treating others with respect and dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Make an effort to see the positive, she said. Another message of the book is that instead of defining herself as a victim of war, Bior chooses to focus on the support she experienced from family and friends that helped her survive the ordeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt reminded me that humanity is not dead. I took their advice and kept going. People should be given the opportunity to keep going in life to produce and improve lives,\u201d Bior said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy Beautiful Colors, A Refugee Story\u201d is being published by Dorrance Publishing. The artwork was done by Bior\u2019s friends Samantha Ferry, Deng Paul and Fana McHugh.<\/p>\n
The book can be ordered at the Dorrance Publishing bookstore at bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com<\/a> It is also available as an e-book.<\/p>\n