- Kseniia Botezat lived in Chernivisti, a city in southwestern Ukraine, one of the regions where many people fled when Russia invaded Ukraine.
- She said her parents sent her to live with her grandparents and aunt in Greenboro, North Carolina, in March 2022, three weeks after the war broke out.
- The 17-year-old said she is grateful and loves her new life and new country.
A teenager who fled her native Ukraine to escape the horrors of war with Russia has been crowned homecoming queen at her North Carolina high school.
Kseniia Botezat lived in Chernivisti, a city in southwestern Ukraine, one of the regions where many people fled when Russia invaded Ukraine in an unprovoked attack that began in February 2022 and has since claimed the lives of more than 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
Three weeks after the start of the war, Botezat's parents, concerned about their daughter's well-being and the uncertainty the war brought, sent their daughter to Greenboro, North Carolina, where her grandparents and aunt live.
Botezat recalled how “terrifying” it was to live in a war zone for three weeks before fleeing.
“They didn't know if the bombs would fall on our house,” she said. 'The people from the east, their eyes, that's what I was afraid of.'
Almost two years later, Botezat is flourishing.
In September, she was named Homecoming Queens of Southeast Guilford High School and expressed her gratitude for her new life in her new country.
She smiles as she is crowned Homecoming Queen of Southeast Guilford High School
Botezat said her parents were not familiar with the Homecoming Queen honor, but once she explained it to them, she said, “Everyone was screaming and crying.”
A street in Ukraine showing the massive destruction after Russia invaded Ukraine in an unprovoked attack in February 2022
Botezat recalled the events of that exciting day to Fox8 News her parents didn't know what a Homecoming Queen is.
When she had explained the honor and showed them her crown, she said 'eit was like everyone was screaming and crying.
She added: 'It was like calling eight people.'
Botezat, whose parents, brother and cousin still live in Ukraine, said she always dreamed of coming to America since she was a child.
She recalled “begging” her parents every summer to visit her grandparents and relatives.
When she arrived in North Carolina in March 2022 and started high school shortly after, she was welcomed with open arms by her classmates and peers.
The teen said that when she first came to the United States, her parents only wanted her to stay for six months, but once they saw how happy she was, they agreed to let her stay.
“My parents said I have more chances for a bright future here,” she said.
The teen said she always dreamed of coming to America since she was a young girl and expressed her gratitude for her new life in her new country.
The high school student will graduate this spring and hopes to study nursing in college
Botzat, who will start high school in the spring, hopes to study nursing in college.
She said she haI have been busy applying to various colleges and have already sent out eight applications.
Her summer plans include visiting her family in Ukraine for a few weeks before studying in America.