Beginning Here

Written by Samaa Mohammed, an Adult Education student

I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, to an Iraqi father and a Lebanese mother.

I am 31 years old and have 3 daughters—Malak is 12 years old, Mariam is 10, and Myriam is 2.

I grew up in a family of 9, who were very loving for each other. I don’t have many happy memories of childhood because of the wars that took place in my country of Iraq at the time, the dangerous circumstances my country was going through. But in spite of that, my brothers and sisters always tried to make beautiful memories that we could keep and retrieve whenever this life brought us together as a family in the future.

I was an excellent student, and I had good relationships with my teachers and with other students in my school because of my social and ambitious personality.

Then my husband, who is Kurdish, was lost to the war. So I took care of my children and worked at two low-paying jobs. I helped care for my elderly parents, especially my mom who had cancer, and my younger brothers and sister.

In my country, the absence of the simplest elements of living and comfort, such as freedom of expression and a sense of security, makes it very hard to try to improve yourself, or even feel you could have goals. But this did not stop me from dreaming. I strived to build a better future for me and for my children.

In 2017, I moved to the USA. I still remember the moment when the plane landed at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. My fascination with this big city at that moment was the beginning of a new life for me. I didn’t know what was waiting for me outside this big airport.

I didn’t know much about this place. But in my heart I felt it—my life, that as long as I dreamed, it would begin from here. Here I could fulfill my dreams that I always dreamed of before.

Two years ago, I started studying at Valley Opportunity Council to try to improve my English. My class has been like a family for me here. Now I want to find a good job to help myself care for my baby. I plan to volunteer in childcare at VOC, and train, and hopefully get a position working with kids. I got my permit and am preparing to get my driver’s license.

I applied for citizenship and want to get a college degree. Someday, I would like to learn to write, to try to use writing to help others and share encouragement.

During my four years in America, I have faced many struggles. It took over a year to get my Green card, which made everything hard, like opening a bank account or finding a place to live. I made it through a difficult period recovering from a frightening case of COVID, which caused a heart condition that I suffered from for many months, when I couldn’t do anything. And always I felt the absence of my family, missing my family that still lives in Iraq.

But I feel lucky to be in a country with sovereignty, laws, and freedoms. I have great hope that the future will be more beautiful, and I can work to achieve all of my wishes for my family and me.

Samaa Mohammed