Atlanta

Lost Boy of Sudan turned Atlanta police officer shares inspiring story

By Craig Lucie
By Craig Lucie

ATLANTA — One of the Lost Boys of Sudan who became an Atlanta police officer spent part of his Wednesday inspiring students at Woodward Academy.

Channel 2 Action News was there as he shared his incredible story about how he got to where he is today, and what students can learn from his experience.

Jacob Mach is one of 20,000 Lost Boys of Sudan who came to the United States 16 years ago. He came with a dream of becoming an Atlanta police officer.

Last month that dream came true. When he’s not keeping us safe, Mach is inspiring the next generation.

We met him at Woodward Academy’s lower school.

Officer Jacob Mach

“Some of the Lost Boys who could not swim were eaten by crocodiles, and some were carried away by a strong wave of current,” Mach said.

Stories like that quickly grabbed the attention of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students.

Mach was displaced during the Sudanese Civil War, which lasted from 1983 to 2005.

“A lot of my colleagues died of starvation with no food or water,”  Mach said.

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This school visit is special for Mach because his son goes to Woodward, so his teachers and peers could hear how his father overcame so much to be standing where he is today.

“If I have an obstacle, I don’t want to stop and give up. I want to keep going and be optimistic and persevere through it,” said sixth-grade student Rhian Richardson.

A Woodward Academy teacher told us she was impressed and moved my Mach’s story.

“It was (his) sense of positivity and optimism and relentless belief that life would get better for him,” Julia Duke said.

In one conversation with Atlanta police Officer Jacob Mach, you can learn a lot about life.

“You need to do the right things for the right reasons,” Mach said.

Mach’s first day on the job as an Atlanta police officer was on Feb. 15.  He’s one of thousands of Lost Boys of Sudan who have made the United States home, and he plans to visit as many schools as he can with his inspirational message.

Cox Media Group

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