I hear my grandmother’s say in a deep loving Arabic voice yeah Dima tally
loving Arabic voice yeah Dima tally
loving Arabic voice yeah Dima tally which means Dima come here I am five
which means Dima come here I am five
which means Dima come here I am five years old playing in her home I put my
years old playing in her home I put my
years old playing in her home I put my dog down and run to the kitchen anxious
dog down and run to the kitchen anxious
dog down and run to the kitchen anxious to find out what my grandmother wants to
to find out what my grandmother wants to
to find out what my grandmother wants to tell me as I get there she motions to me
tell me as I get there she motions to me
tell me as I get there she motions to me to get closer to her and as I do i watch
to get closer to her and as I do i watch
to get closer to her and as I do i watch her as she leans towards the kitchen
her as she leans towards the kitchen
her as she leans towards the kitchen table she picks one of her magazines
table she picks one of her magazines
table she picks one of her magazines carefully rolls it and then slowly ties
carefully rolls it and then slowly ties
carefully rolls it and then slowly ties it with a red ribbon she looks at me and
it with a red ribbon she looks at me and
it with a red ribbon she looks at me and she said today we’re going to play a new
she said today we’re going to play a new
she said today we’re going to play a new game we’re going to celebrate the day
game we’re going to celebrate the day
game we’re going to celebrate the day you graduate from college I made you a
you graduate from college I made you a
you graduate from college I made you a graduation diploma just run to me when I
graduation diploma just run to me when I
graduation diploma just run to me when I call your name I watched her as she took
call your name I watched her as she took
call your name I watched her as she took few steps backwards she stood straight
few steps backwards she stood straight
few steps backwards she stood straight raised her head was holding the diploma
raised her head was holding the diploma
raised her head was holding the diploma as if it was the most valuable thing
as if it was the most valuable thing
as if it was the most valuable thing that she could give me and I heard her
that she could give me and I heard her
that she could give me and I heard her announced an aloud voice to a large
announced an aloud voice to a large
announced an aloud voice to a large audience thousands of people in our
audience thousands of people in our
audience thousands of people in our imagination and say helped me to
imagination and say helped me to
imagination and say helped me to congratulate the next graduate Dima
congratulate the next graduate Dima
congratulate the next graduate Dima joeys and then she motioned to me to get
joeys and then she motioned to me to get
joeys and then she motioned to me to get closer to her and as I did she firmly
closer to her and as I did she firmly
closer to her and as I did she firmly shook my hand I could see tears in her
shook my hand I could see tears in her
shook my hand I could see tears in her eyes and then I heard her say in Arabic
eyes and then I heard her say in Arabic
eyes and then I heard her say in Arabic mabrook enough ahora fiki as she was
mabrook enough ahora fiki as she was
mabrook enough ahora fiki as she was handing me that diploma I stood there I
handing me that diploma I stood there I
handing me that diploma I stood there I didn’t understand what all of that meant
didn’t understand what all of that meant
didn’t understand what all of that meant what is a diploma what do I do with a
what is a diploma what do I do with a
what is a diploma what do I do with a graduation
graduation
graduation why is my grandmother so happy but
why is my grandmother so happy but
why is my grandmother so happy but really all that matter it was that I was
really all that matter it was that I was
really all that matter it was that I was having fun with my favorite person in
having fun with my favorite person in
having fun with my favorite person in the world
the world
the world years later I returned the secret behind
years later I returned the secret behind
years later I returned the secret behind this graduation game
this graduation game
this graduation game my grandmother was not permitted to go
my grandmother was not permitted to go
my grandmother was not permitted to go to school as a little girl in the Middle
to school as a little girl in the Middle
to school as a little girl in the Middle East she was expected to stay home and
East she was expected to stay home and
East she was expected to stay home and help her mom with housework to cook and
help her mom with housework to cook and
help her mom with housework to cook and clean all day but her five brothers went
clean all day but her five brothers went
clean all day but her five brothers went to school every day they woke up put on
to school every day they woke up put on
to school every day they woke up put on their school uniform and then after they
their school uniform and then after they
their school uniform and then after they came back from school they would be
came back from school they would be
came back from school they would be sitting and actually she’s the one
sitting and actually she’s the one
sitting and actually she’s the one sitting next to them listening to every
sitting next to them listening to every
sitting next to them listening to every single word that they said as if her
single word that they said as if her
single word that they said as if her ears were like magnets wanted to catch
ears were like magnets wanted to catch
ears were like magnets wanted to catch every single piece of information she
every single piece of information she
every single piece of information she taught herself the sound and the shape
taught herself the sound and the shape
taught herself the sound and the shape of alphabet it was very important for
of alphabet it was very important for
of alphabet it was very important for her to read magazines and follow her
her to read magazines and follow her
her to read magazines and follow her favorite movie stars reading represented
favorite movie stars reading represented
favorite movie stars reading represented independence to her and one of those
independence to her and one of those
independence to her and one of those magazines magically transformed in her
magazines magically transformed in her
magazines magically transformed in her kitchen to a dream of a formal education
kitchen to a dream of a formal education
kitchen to a dream of a formal education beautifully tied in a red ribbon it was
beautifully tied in a red ribbon it was
beautifully tied in a red ribbon it was the symbol of empowerment that
the symbol of empowerment that
the symbol of empowerment that challenged to the norm and a desire of a
challenged to the norm and a desire of a
challenged to the norm and a desire of a better future starting with me my
better future starting with me my
better future starting with me my grandmother was very aware of the
grandmother was very aware of the
grandmother was very aware of the cultural limitations that I was going to
cultural limitations that I was going to
cultural limitations that I was going to face she understood the expectations
face she understood the expectations
face she understood the expectations that the community has of me and she was
that the community has of me and she was
that the community has of me and she was always concerned that just like these
always concerned that just like these
always concerned that just like these limitations stopped her that they would
limitations stopped her that they would
limitations stopped her that they would try to stop and discourage me as well
try to stop and discourage me as well
try to stop and discourage me as well that’s why it was so important for her
that’s why it was so important for her
that’s why it was so important for her to plant the seed and the belief that I
to plant the seed and the belief that I
to plant the seed and the belief that I can graduate early on that’s why she
can graduate early on that’s why she
can graduate early on that’s why she kept playing this game with me over and
kept playing this game with me over and
kept playing this game with me over and over and over and over again the
over and over and over again the
over and over and over again the graduation game became our favorite
graduation game became our favorite
graduation game became our favorite activity I even memorized the
activity I even memorized the
activity I even memorized the announcement word by word it was so much
announcement word by word it was so much
announcement word by word it was so much fun my grandmother passed away when I
fun my grandmother passed away when I
fun my grandmother passed away when I was nine years old but the belief that
was nine years old but the belief that
was nine years old but the belief that she gave me never
she gave me never
she gave me never left never went away the path was
left never went away the path was
left never went away the path was definitely not easy and it required many
definitely not easy and it required many
definitely not easy and it required many sacrifices years later right before I
sacrifices years later right before I
sacrifices years later right before I finished the touji he which is our
finished the touji he which is our
finished the touji he which is our Jordanian high school my oldest uncle
Jordanian high school my oldest uncle
Jordanian high school my oldest uncle called and he said he wanted to talk to
called and he said he wanted to talk to
called and he said he wanted to talk to me about my future I immediately felt so
me about my future I immediately felt so
me about my future I immediately felt so anxious he never talked directly to me
anxious he never talked directly to me
anxious he never talked directly to me before he’s a very wealthy man
before he’s a very wealthy man
before he’s a very wealthy man successful respected in our community
successful respected in our community
successful respected in our community and family he has an international
and family he has an international
and family he has an international business travels to Europe Asia and to
business travels to Europe Asia and to
business travels to Europe Asia and to the US but I also felt just because he
the US but I also felt just because he
the US but I also felt just because he was interested to help me that gave me
was interested to help me that gave me
was interested to help me that gave me so much gratitude that he is interested
so much gratitude that he is interested
so much gratitude that he is interested in my future I was wondering the entire
in my future I was wondering the entire
in my future I was wondering the entire time what is his vision of success for
time what is his vision of success for
time what is his vision of success for me until we sat and we talked I remember
me until we sat and we talked I remember
me until we sat and we talked I remember as we were sitting my uncle was smoking
as we were sitting my uncle was smoking
as we were sitting my uncle was smoking a cigar and he said I heard that you’re
a cigar and he said I heard that you’re
a cigar and he said I heard that you’re interested in graduating from a
interested in graduating from a
interested in graduating from a four-year college but I also know that
four-year college but I also know that
four-year college but I also know that there is a big demand in the market for
there is a big demand in the market for
there is a big demand in the market for executive assistants I recommend for you
executive assistants I recommend for you
executive assistants I recommend for you to enroll in a secretarial school take
to enroll in a secretarial school take
to enroll in a secretarial school take few speed typing courses and then focus
few speed typing courses and then focus
few speed typing courses and then focus on becoming an assistant at that moment
on becoming an assistant at that moment
on becoming an assistant at that moment I felt so deflated
I felt so deflated
I felt so deflated I felt very disconnected from my uncle I
I felt very disconnected from my uncle I
I felt very disconnected from my uncle I was in a crossroad between his advice
was in a crossroad between his advice
was in a crossroad between his advice that would push me to a whole different
that would push me to a whole different
that would push me to a whole different direction compared to where my heart
direction compared to where my heart
direction compared to where my heart wanted to go and to my end to the belief
wanted to go and to my end to the belief
wanted to go and to my end to the belief that my grandmother gave me that I can
that my grandmother gave me that I can
that my grandmother gave me that I can graduate I could remember her voice as
graduate I could remember her voice as
graduate I could remember her voice as she was announcing my name so loud to
she was announcing my name so loud to
she was announcing my name so loud to the invisible audience
the invisible audience
the invisible audience I remember how how much fun it was and
I remember how how much fun it was and
I remember how how much fun it was and the excitement that I felt after I
the excitement that I felt after I
the excitement that I felt after I received my diploma so I decided not to
received my diploma so I decided not to
received my diploma so I decided not to listen to him instead
listen to him instead
listen to him instead I decided to apply to the College of
I decided to apply to the College of
I decided to apply to the College of Business at the University of Jordan as
Business at the University of Jordan as
Business at the University of Jordan as I was completing my application I was
I was completing my application I was
I was completing my application I was reading the answers over and over over
reading the answers over and over over
reading the answers over and over over again maybe like over ten times I just I
again maybe like over ten times I just I
again maybe like over ten times I just I just it was just so hard for me to let
just it was just so hard for me to let
just it was just so hard for me to let it go so I held it and I prayed and I
it go so I held it and I prayed and I
it go so I held it and I prayed and I remember as I dropped it in the mail I
remember as I dropped it in the mail I
remember as I dropped it in the mail I could feel my grandmother’s spirit
could feel my grandmother’s spirit
could feel my grandmother’s spirit surrounding me I could remember her
surrounding me I could remember her
surrounding me I could remember her diploma her beautiful diploma that she
diploma her beautiful diploma that she
diploma her beautiful diploma that she gave me but just the fact that I applied
gave me but just the fact that I applied
gave me but just the fact that I applied led to even more things related to the
led to even more things related to the
led to even more things related to the story so over a month later I was
story so over a month later I was
story so over a month later I was checking the mail and I saw that I got a
checking the mail and I saw that I got a
checking the mail and I saw that I got a letter from the University of Jordan
letter from the University of Jordan
letter from the University of Jordan it’s the logo on it and addressed to me
it’s the logo on it and addressed to me
it’s the logo on it and addressed to me I was so excited because I’ve been
I was so excited because I’ve been
I was so excited because I’ve been checking the mail every single day even
checking the mail every single day even
checking the mail every single day even the day after I put the mail in the mail
the day after I put the mail in the mail
the day after I put the mail in the mail my application in the mail so I got I
my application in the mail so I got I
my application in the mail so I got I opened it very fast and I was looking
opened it very fast and I was looking
opened it very fast and I was looking for it just one phrase I just wanted to
for it just one phrase I just wanted to
for it just one phrase I just wanted to see one phrase and I wanted to read
see one phrase and I wanted to read
see one phrase and I wanted to read pleased to inform you and as I opened it
pleased to inform you and as I opened it
pleased to inform you and as I opened it the phrase was there I was accepted to
the phrase was there I was accepted to
the phrase was there I was accepted to the University even with that I still
the University even with that I still
the University even with that I still needed to hold on to my belief that I
needed to hold on to my belief that I
needed to hold on to my belief that I can graduate the first semester one day
can graduate the first semester one day
can graduate the first semester one day I was less than 10 minutes late to my 4
I was less than 10 minutes late to my 4
I was less than 10 minutes late to my 4 p.m. curfew and my father was so mad he
p.m. curfew and my father was so mad he
p.m. curfew and my father was so mad he said you’re not allowed to complete your
said you’re not allowed to complete your
said you’re not allowed to complete your education stay home and I’ll find you a
education stay home and I’ll find you a
education stay home and I’ll find you a husband my father was not comfortable
husband my father was not comfortable
husband my father was not comfortable with the fact that I was attending a
with the fact that I was attending a
with the fact that I was attending a co-ed University just the image that I’m
co-ed University just the image that I’m
co-ed University just the image that I’m surrounded by young men disturbed him he
surrounded by young men disturbed him he
surrounded by young men disturbed him he is educated he’s a medical doctor but he
is educated he’s a medical doctor but he
is educated he’s a medical doctor but he never understood the significance of
never understood the significance of
never understood the significance of education to me at that moment I felt as
education to me at that moment I felt as
education to me at that moment I felt as if he was pulling
if he was pulling
if he was pulling my diploma away from me but I still
my diploma away from me but I still
my diploma away from me but I still could also feel how it beautifully felt
could also feel how it beautifully felt
could also feel how it beautifully felt when my grandmother used to place it in
when my grandmother used to place it in
when my grandmother used to place it in my hand so I started begging and begging
my hand so I started begging and begging
my hand so I started begging and begging and begging day and night continued to
and begging day and night continued to
and begging day and night continued to beg and he agreed finally but the
beg and he agreed finally but the
beg and he agreed finally but the threats never ended and most of the time
threats never ended and most of the time
threats never ended and most of the time for no logical reason less than a year
for no logical reason less than a year
for no logical reason less than a year later through a traditional family
later through a traditional family
later through a traditional family introduction I got engaged at the age of
introduction I got engaged at the age of
introduction I got engaged at the age of 19 to a 30 year old relative and my
19 to a 30 year old relative and my
19 to a 30 year old relative and my father was thrilled my one condition –
father was thrilled my one condition –
father was thrilled my one condition – that marriage was that I would be
that marriage was that I would be
that marriage was that I would be allowed to complete my education the
allowed to complete my education the
allowed to complete my education the plan was that one week after our wedding
plan was that one week after our wedding
plan was that one week after our wedding we would both move together to San Diego
we would both move together to San Diego
we would both move together to San Diego California to follow his career
California to follow his career
California to follow his career aspirations that meant that my education
aspirations that meant that my education
aspirations that meant that my education had to get interrupted I needed to focus
had to get interrupted I needed to focus
had to get interrupted I needed to focus on understanding the American culture
on understanding the American culture
on understanding the American culture improving my English and learning to
improving my English and learning to
improving my English and learning to drive on these huge California freeways
drive on these huge California freeways
drive on these huge California freeways it was difficult it was actually more
it was difficult it was actually more
it was difficult it was actually more than difficult but every single time I
than difficult but every single time I
than difficult but every single time I felt how hard it was every time I felt
felt how hard it was every time I felt
felt how hard it was every time I felt that I was going the wrong direction I
that I was going the wrong direction I
that I was going the wrong direction I remembered my grandmother
remembered my grandmother
remembered my grandmother I remembered the tears of joy in her
I remembered the tears of joy in her
I remembered the tears of joy in her eyes
eyes
eyes I remembered her voice and that gave me
I remembered her voice and that gave me
I remembered her voice and that gave me the determination to keep moving forward
the determination to keep moving forward
the determination to keep moving forward I took English classes and I decided to
I took English classes and I decided to
I took English classes and I decided to apply to San Diego State University I
apply to San Diego State University I
apply to San Diego State University I remember after I got I applied just a
remember after I got I applied just a
remember after I got I applied just a few months later I got a letter in the
few months later I got a letter in the
few months later I got a letter in the mail from SDSU’s logo on it with my
mail from SDSU’s logo on it with my
mail from SDSU’s logo on it with my address to me I was so excited I went I
address to me I was so excited I went I
address to me I was so excited I went I opened that very very fast I was looking
opened that very very fast I was looking
opened that very very fast I was looking for my favorite phrase pleased to inform
for my favorite phrase pleased to inform
for my favorite phrase pleased to inform you but it wasn’t there I was rejected
you but it wasn’t there I was rejected
you but it wasn’t there I was rejected again I felt so horrible but I couldn’t
again I felt so horrible but I couldn’t
again I felt so horrible but I couldn’t give up there’s no way for me to give up
give up there’s no way for me to give up
give up there’s no way for me to give up the belief that I had was so strong at
the belief that I had was so strong at
the belief that I had was so strong at that moment I remembered how it felt
that moment I remembered how it felt
that moment I remembered how it felt when I was running to my grandmother how
when I was running to my grandmother how
when I was running to my grandmother how fun it was when I was accepting my
fun it was when I was accepting my
fun it was when I was accepting my diploma and that gave me the
diploma and that gave me the
diploma and that gave me the determination that I am going to take
determination that I am going to take
determination that I am going to take more English classes and I’m going to
more English classes and I’m going to
more English classes and I’m going to apply one more time and I did when I got
apply one more time and I did when I got
apply one more time and I did when I got the letter in the mail and I opened that
the letter in the mail and I opened that
the letter in the mail and I opened that it did have the phrase pleased to inform
it did have the phrase pleased to inform
it did have the phrase pleased to inform you I was accepted as you know getting
you I was accepted as you know getting
you I was accepted as you know getting into the university that comes with its
into the university that comes with its
into the university that comes with its own challenges and mine was English I
own challenges and mine was English I
own challenges and mine was English I was very slow in reading and writing I
was very slow in reading and writing I
was very slow in reading and writing I would be in an exam room and now as I am
would be in an exam room and now as I am
would be in an exam room and now as I am still a half done with my exam my
still a half done with my exam my
still a half done with my exam my classmates would be already done and
classmates would be already done and
classmates would be already done and they would pass their paper to the
they would pass their paper to the
they would pass their paper to the professor and leave but every graded
professor and leave but every graded
professor and leave but every graded paper that I got back it felt like a
paper that I got back it felt like a
paper that I got back it felt like a mini baby diploma that was getting me
mini baby diploma that was getting me
mini baby diploma that was getting me one step closer to my graduation and
one step closer to my graduation and
one step closer to my graduation and after hundreds and hundreds of these
after hundreds and hundreds of these
after hundreds and hundreds of these many diplomas
many diplomas
many diplomas it was my graduation day I was standing
it was my graduation day I was standing
it was my graduation day I was standing in line I was next to receive my diploma
in line I was next to receive my diploma
in line I was next to receive my diploma my heart was beating I was so excited
my heart was beating I was so excited
my heart was beating I was so excited and as I heard the announcers say the
and as I heard the announcers say the
and as I heard the announcers say the next graduate D Magali I could hear my
next graduate D Magali I could hear my
next graduate D Magali I could hear my grandmother as she was announcing my
grandmother as she was announcing my
grandmother as she was announcing my name and as I took the first step to
name and as I took the first step to
name and as I took the first step to walk towards the dean to accept my
walk towards the dean to accept my
walk towards the dean to accept my diploma I remember how I was I was
diploma I remember how I was I was
diploma I remember how I was I was running in her kitchen and as I shook
running in her kitchen and as I shook
running in her kitchen and as I shook the hands of the Dean and I heard him
the hands of the Dean and I heard him
the hands of the Dean and I heard him say congratulations
say congratulations
say congratulations I could hear my grandmother telling me
I could hear my grandmother telling me
I could hear my grandmother telling me in Arabic and congratulating me mabrook
in Arabic and congratulating me mabrook
in Arabic and congratulating me mabrook and a few Rafiki which means
and a few Rafiki which means
and a few Rafiki which means congratulations I am so proud of hee
congratulations I am so proud of hee
congratulations I am so proud of hee my belief became my reality I graduated
my belief became my reality I graduated
my belief became my reality I graduated and I graduated again with a master’s
and I graduated again with a master’s
and I graduated again with a master’s degree the game the fun game that my
degree the game the fun game that my
degree the game the fun game that my grandmother created in her kitchen
grandmother created in her kitchen
grandmother created in her kitchen resulted in me becoming the first
resulted in me becoming the first
resulted in me becoming the first educated woman in our family now many
educated woman in our family now many
educated woman in our family now many years later I get ultimate joy every
years later I get ultimate joy every
years later I get ultimate joy every time I graduate regardless if it’s my
time I graduate regardless if it’s my
time I graduate regardless if it’s my graduation ceremony or I’m attending to
graduation ceremony or I’m attending to
graduation ceremony or I’m attending to cheer for friends or family even
cheer for friends or family even
cheer for friends or family even kindergarten graduations excitement I
kindergarten graduations excitement I
kindergarten graduations excitement I feel like a 5 year old girl all over
feel like a 5 year old girl all over
feel like a 5 year old girl all over again playing a life-changing game in my
again playing a life-changing game in my
again playing a life-changing game in my grandmother’s kitchen I learned that as
grandmother’s kitchen I learned that as
grandmother’s kitchen I learned that as a dream becomes a belief it becomes
a dream becomes a belief it becomes
a dream becomes a belief it becomes unstoppable it’s one thing to tell
unstoppable it’s one thing to tell
unstoppable it’s one thing to tell others to dream but it’s a whole
others to dream but it’s a whole
others to dream but it’s a whole different thing to help them believe
different thing to help them believe
different thing to help them believe that they can achieve that dream and a
that they can achieve that dream and a
that they can achieve that dream and a powerful way to do that is to help them
powerful way to do that is to help them
powerful way to do that is to help them by making it tangible by helping them to
by making it tangible by helping them to
by making it tangible by helping them to see it feel it experience it over and
see it feel it experience it over and
see it feel it experience it over and over and over again then it becomes so
over and over again then it becomes so
over and over again then it becomes so powerful that would allow them to take
powerful that would allow them to take
powerful that would allow them to take actions difficult actions and it would
actions difficult actions and it would
actions difficult actions and it would become their reality our beliefs become
become their reality our beliefs become
become their reality our beliefs become our reality so to inspire you as you are
our reality so to inspire you as you are
our reality so to inspire you as you are shaping your tomorrow I have a gift for
shaping your tomorrow I have a gift for
shaping your tomorrow I have a gift for you
you
you from my grandmother your own diploma to
from my grandmother your own diploma to
from my grandmother your own diploma to remind you that to transform your dream
remind you that to transform your dream
remind you that to transform your dream into a belief you need to make it
into a belief you need to make it
into a belief you need to make it tangible then it would become your
tangible then it would become your
tangible then it would become your reality my grandmother would be so proud
reality my grandmother would be so proud
reality my grandmother would be so proud to learn that every single woman in our
to learn that every single woman in our
to learn that every single woman in our family that came after me graduated from
family that came after me graduated from
family that came after me graduated from college and many with a master’s degree
college and many with a master’s degree
college and many with a master’s degree it’s not even a question in our family
it’s not even a question in our family
it’s not even a question in our family right
right
right now if women should get an education it
now if women should get an education it
now if women should get an education it is our new norm it is the healthy norm
is our new norm it is the healthy norm
is our new norm it is the healthy norm it is my grandmother’s dream come true
it is my grandmother’s dream come true
it is my grandmother’s dream come true my grandmother would also be proud of
my grandmother would also be proud of
my grandmother would also be proud of one more thing she loved to read
one more thing she loved to read
one more thing she loved to read read her magazines cover to cover she
read her magazines cover to cover she
read her magazines cover to cover she would never have imagined to one day
would never have imagined to one day
would never have imagined to one day open one of those magazines and see an
open one of those magazines and see an
open one of those magazines and see an article about me about that work that
article about me about that work that
article about me about that work that I’m doing to empower others just like
I’m doing to empower others just like
I’m doing to empower others just like she empowered me but the best part she
she empowered me but the best part she
she empowered me but the best part she wouldn’t just see my picture she would
wouldn’t just see my picture she would
wouldn’t just see my picture she would see her picture to grandma and our hula
see her picture to grandma and our hula
see her picture to grandma and our hula [Music]
”
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