I like to have silly ideas ideas wild and unimaginative and ideas simple and
and unimaginative and ideas simple and
and unimaginative and ideas simple and straightforward I have ideas ranging
straightforward I have ideas ranging
straightforward I have ideas ranging from how to get ready faster in the
from how to get ready faster in the
from how to get ready faster in the mornings to how to make food taste
mornings to how to make food taste
mornings to how to make food taste better and maybe just maybe an idea that
better and maybe just maybe an idea that
better and maybe just maybe an idea that can change the world now my ideas
can change the world now my ideas
can change the world now my ideas haven’t always been interpreted in the
haven’t always been interpreted in the
haven’t always been interpreted in the ways I would have liked just asked my
ways I would have liked just asked my
ways I would have liked just asked my literature teacher why I got a C on my
literature teacher why I got a C on my
literature teacher why I got a C on my paper but sometimes you get that idea
paper but sometimes you get that idea
paper but sometimes you get that idea you have that idea that requires a leap
you have that idea that requires a leap
you have that idea that requires a leap of faith and a mountain of hope and a
of faith and a mountain of hope and a
of faith and a mountain of hope and a couple months ago I had that idea and I
couple months ago I had that idea and I
couple months ago I had that idea and I took that leap of faith and I embraced
took that leap of faith and I embraced
took that leap of faith and I embraced that mountain of hope and a year ago at
that mountain of hope and a year ago at
that mountain of hope and a year ago at the age of 14 I made a short film that
the age of 14 I made a short film that
the age of 14 I made a short film that received international acclaim and an
received international acclaim and an
received international acclaim and an invitation to the White House in a time
invitation to the White House in a time
invitation to the White House in a time where our means of technology are
where our means of technology are
where our means of technology are advancing it’s no surprise that our
advancing it’s no surprise that our
advancing it’s no surprise that our means of communicating have advanced to
means of communicating have advanced to
means of communicating have advanced to no longer do we have to take a chunk of
no longer do we have to take a chunk of
no longer do we have to take a chunk of time to read a complex article when we
time to read a complex article when we
time to read a complex article when we can just simply sit and watch videos
can just simply sit and watch videos
can just simply sit and watch videos have become such a critical part of our
have become such a critical part of our
have become such a critical part of our communication you watch videos for
communication you watch videos for
communication you watch videos for anything and everything because they’re
anything and everything because they’re
anything and everything because they’re just simply easy in a world that is
just simply easy in a world that is
just simply easy in a world that is moving so fast it is interesting to take
moving so fast it is interesting to take
moving so fast it is interesting to take a step back from it all and look at what
a step back from it all and look at what
a step back from it all and look at what we do daily we communicate through our
we do daily we communicate through our
we do daily we communicate through our fingertips and we learn through a screen
fingertips and we learn through a screen
fingertips and we learn through a screen now most would be come to say that being
now most would be come to say that being
now most would be come to say that being a millennial is a curse that Millennials
a millennial is a curse that Millennials
a millennial is a curse that Millennials are selfie crazed narcissistic internet
are selfie crazed narcissistic internet
are selfie crazed narcissistic internet addicted texting drivers and while some
addicted texting drivers and while some
addicted texting drivers and while some of those statements could sometimes
of those statements could sometimes
of those statements could sometimes prove to be a little true we contain a
prove to be a little true we contain a
prove to be a little true we contain a power that has opened up a world of
power that has opened up a world of
power that has opened up a world of opportunity take the internet for
opportunity take the internet for
opportunity take the internet for example in 2016 3.4 billion people used
example in 2016 3.4 billion people used
example in 2016 3.4 billion people used the internet daily isn’t it amazing to
the internet daily isn’t it amazing to
the internet daily isn’t it amazing to think that one complicated piece of
think that one complicated piece of
think that one complicated piece of technology has the power to link
technology has the power to link
technology has the power to link the whole world together these are no
the whole world together these are no
the whole world together these are no longer the days where you write a letter
longer the days where you write a letter
longer the days where you write a letter and wait weeks for a reply this is a
and wait weeks for a reply this is a
and wait weeks for a reply this is a time where you do and receive
time where you do and receive
time where you do and receive instantaneously the Internet is most
instantaneously the Internet is most
instantaneously the Internet is most arguably used for the various social
arguably used for the various social
arguably used for the various social media platforms and while social media
media platforms and while social media
media platforms and while social media is often looked down upon
is often looked down upon
is often looked down upon we are failing to realize the
we are failing to realize the
we are failing to realize the complexities at the opportunities that
complexities at the opportunities that
complexities at the opportunities that it holds when you really delve into
it holds when you really delve into
it holds when you really delve into thoughts you would see that you have
thoughts you would see that you have
thoughts you would see that you have access to the entire world you can
access to the entire world you can
access to the entire world you can communicate with over 3.4 billion people
communicate with over 3.4 billion people
communicate with over 3.4 billion people and while social media is still most
and while social media is still most
and while social media is still most popularly used to share selfie or to
popularly used to share selfie or to
popularly used to share selfie or to share a good picture we need to realize
share a good picture we need to realize
share a good picture we need to realize the power that we have in our hands
the power that we have in our hands
the power that we have in our hands rather than thinking of a picture of
rather than thinking of a picture of
rather than thinking of a picture of yours to go viral think of an idea
yours to go viral think of an idea
yours to go viral think of an idea to go viral a story to go viral
to go viral a story to go viral
to go viral a story to go viral something that has the opportunity to
something that has the opportunity to
something that has the opportunity to change the world because I know we all
change the world because I know we all
change the world because I know we all have that power believe me a good hair
have that power believe me a good hair
have that power believe me a good hair day isn’t going to do much to change the
day isn’t going to do much to change the
day isn’t going to do much to change the world
world
world so the moment I started believing
so the moment I started believing
so the moment I started believing strongly in an idea was when I made a
strongly in an idea was when I made a
strongly in an idea was when I made a short film about it I made a short film
short film about it I made a short film
short film about it I made a short film about racism and about my life as a
about racism and about my life as a
about racism and about my life as a young Muslim woman in America and it has
young Muslim woman in America and it has
young Muslim woman in America and it has created so much conversation it received
created so much conversation it received
created so much conversation it received international attention and also the
international attention and also the
international attention and also the opportunity to share my story and to
opportunity to share my story and to
opportunity to share my story and to share my ideas and my thoughts now the
share my ideas and my thoughts now the
share my ideas and my thoughts now the upcoming of my film probably surprises
upcoming of my film probably surprises
upcoming of my film probably surprises you just as much as it surprises me it
you just as much as it surprises me it
you just as much as it surprises me it all started with a summer project being
all started with a summer project being
all started with a summer project being a high schooler I also joined the
a high schooler I also joined the
a high schooler I also joined the International Baccalaureate program
International Baccalaureate program
International Baccalaureate program otherwise known as IB and they require
otherwise known as IB and they require
otherwise known as IB and they require you to do a summer project the year
you to do a summer project the year
you to do a summer project the year before your sophomore year and it’s
before your sophomore year and it’s
before your sophomore year and it’s called the personal project so on top of
called the personal project so on top of
called the personal project so on top of the homework and the deadlines the
the homework and the deadlines the
the homework and the deadlines the assignments I hate to say that I
assignments I hate to say that I
assignments I hate to say that I procrastinated just a little bit and I
procrastinated just a little bit and I
procrastinated just a little bit and I decided to go with the idea of the most
decided to go with the idea of the most
decided to go with the idea of the most basic photography portfolio I could have
basic photography portfolio I could have
basic photography portfolio I could have now don’t get me wrong photography is an
now don’t get me wrong photography is an
now don’t get me wrong photography is an essential form of arts and it is so
essential form of arts and it is so
essential form of arts and it is so explicit and beautiful but it no means
explicit and beautiful but it no means
explicit and beautiful but it no means was what I was doing considered
was what I was doing considered
was what I was doing considered photography so halfway through the
photography so halfway through the
photography so halfway through the summer as I was looking through my
summer as I was looking through my
summer as I was looking through my portfolio I came across shots of art see
portfolio I came across shots of art see
portfolio I came across shots of art see pictures of my coffee and close-ups of
pictures of my coffee and close-ups of
pictures of my coffee and close-ups of people’s eyes and of course the winner a
people’s eyes and of course the winner a
people’s eyes and of course the winner a shoelace tied into the various letters
shoelace tied into the various letters
shoelace tied into the various letters of the alphabet placed on various
of the alphabet placed on various
of the alphabet placed on various backgrounds slap a black and white
backgrounds slap a black and white
backgrounds slap a black and white filter on and call it good
filter on and call it good
filter on and call it good that was my winner but then after
that was my winner but then after
that was my winner but then after looking through this I thought to myself
looking through this I thought to myself
looking through this I thought to myself what was my advisor going to think and
what was my advisor going to think and
what was my advisor going to think and so I scratched it I said no this isn’t
so I scratched it I said no this isn’t
so I scratched it I said no this isn’t it and then a couple days later as I was
it and then a couple days later as I was
it and then a couple days later as I was scrolling through Instagram I came
scrolling through Instagram I came
scrolling through Instagram I came across the White House post for the
across the White House post for the
across the White House post for the White House student Film Festival the
White House student Film Festival the
White House student Film Festival the topic this year was the world I wanted
topic this year was the world I wanted
topic this year was the world I wanted to live in and naturally I thought about
to live in and naturally I thought about
to live in and naturally I thought about my life and the things that I go through
my life and the things that I go through
my life and the things that I go through it was a film that captured the reality
it was a film that captured the reality
it was a film that captured the reality where I got dirty looks and mean tweets
where I got dirty looks and mean tweets
where I got dirty looks and mean tweets and then I had a dream where I was
and then I had a dream where I was
and then I had a dream where I was smiled at and I was appreciated my film
smiled at and I was appreciated my film
smiled at and I was appreciated my film became a final selection of the White
became a final selection of the White
became a final selection of the White House Film Festival and I had the honor
House Film Festival and I had the honor
House Film Festival and I had the honor of being invited to the White House my
of being invited to the White House my
of being invited to the White House my silly little idea took me two weeks to
silly little idea took me two weeks to
silly little idea took me two weeks to make but it received the attention of
make but it received the attention of
make but it received the attention of President Obama my days at the White
President Obama my days at the White
President Obama my days at the White House were days full of creativity and
House were days full of creativity and
House were days full of creativity and conversation the first day being a day
conversation the first day being a day
conversation the first day being a day where you mingled and talked with a 12
where you mingled and talked with a 12
where you mingled and talked with a 12 other film selected in the nation and we
other film selected in the nation and we
other film selected in the nation and we had conversations about moving our world
had conversations about moving our world
had conversations about moving our world forward and creating better futures for
forward and creating better futures for
forward and creating better futures for us because how silly of it is an idea to
us because how silly of it is an idea to
us because how silly of it is an idea to have kids choose their future right and
have kids choose their future right and
have kids choose their future right and so as we were talking I came across this
so as we were talking I came across this
so as we were talking I came across this little girl who is six years old
little girl who is six years old
little girl who is six years old and she had the idea to bring pizza to
and she had the idea to bring pizza to
and she had the idea to bring pizza to your local police department every week
your local police department every week
your local police department every week she was six years
she was six years
she was six years old and she had an idea that could
old and she had an idea that could
old and she had an idea that could change the world the next day was a
change the world the next day was a
change the world the next day was a festival called South by South Lawn a
festival called South by South Lawn a
festival called South by South Lawn a spin-off of South by Southwest otherwise
spin-off of South by Southwest otherwise
spin-off of South by Southwest otherwise known as SXL it was a festival full of
known as SXL it was a festival full of
known as SXL it was a festival full of creativity and innovation and taking
creativity and innovation and taking
creativity and innovation and taking action there I had the opportunity to
action there I had the opportunity to
action there I had the opportunity to speak to numerous magazines and
speak to numerous magazines and
speak to numerous magazines and organizations and also to share my
organizations and also to share my
organizations and also to share my stories and share my opinions all the
stories and share my opinions all the
stories and share my opinions all the kids selected had the honor of meeting
kids selected had the honor of meeting
kids selected had the honor of meeting President Obama who let me tell you it’s
President Obama who let me tell you it’s
President Obama who let me tell you it’s probably be nicest guy in the world that
probably be nicest guy in the world that
probably be nicest guy in the world that I’ve ever met but when you think about
I’ve ever met but when you think about
I’ve ever met but when you think about it we’re all kids standing in a room
it we’re all kids standing in a room
it we’re all kids standing in a room with the president talking about our
with the president talking about our
with the president talking about our futures that is the power that we all
futures that is the power that we all
futures that is the power that we all have and so my days were filled with
have and so my days were filled with
have and so my days were filled with meeting very very interesting and
meeting very very interesting and
meeting very very interesting and special people I met with Milly Bobby
special people I met with Milly Bobby
special people I met with Milly Bobby Brown star of Netflix hit series
Brown star of Netflix hit series
Brown star of Netflix hit series stranger things about having ideas and
stranger things about having ideas and
stranger things about having ideas and having dreams at such a young age and
having dreams at such a young age and
having dreams at such a young age and acting on them I met with bethany mota
acting on them I met with bethany mota
acting on them I met with bethany mota youtube sensation about using the
youtube sensation about using the
youtube sensation about using the platforms we have like YouTube and
platforms we have like YouTube and
platforms we have like YouTube and Instagram and Twitter to share messages
Instagram and Twitter to share messages
Instagram and Twitter to share messages and to promote ideas I also had the
and to promote ideas I also had the
and to promote ideas I also had the honor of working with Amy Poehler smart
honor of working with Amy Poehler smart
honor of working with Amy Poehler smart girl organization about inspiring and
girl organization about inspiring and
girl organization about inspiring and empowering our youth to have a voice and
empowering our youth to have a voice and
empowering our youth to have a voice and to use their voice my film has provided
to use their voice my film has provided
to use their voice my film has provided me with so much knowledge and so much
me with so much knowledge and so much
me with so much knowledge and so much inspiration and confidence to be able to
inspiration and confidence to be able to
inspiration and confidence to be able to tell people what I think and to use my
tell people what I think and to use my
tell people what I think and to use my voice now this film this whole
voice now this film this whole
voice now this film this whole experience was such a pivotal moment in
experience was such a pivotal moment in
experience was such a pivotal moment in my life because before I made this film
my life because before I made this film
my life because before I made this film I had no ideas or intentions of speaking
I had no ideas or intentions of speaking
I had no ideas or intentions of speaking up I knew what was going on in the world
up I knew what was going on in the world
up I knew what was going on in the world and I knew how I was being treated but I
and I knew how I was being treated but I
and I knew how I was being treated but I never once thought to act on it and to
never once thought to act on it and to
never once thought to act on it and to speak out
speak out
speak out and my decision to even make a film was
and my decision to even make a film was
and my decision to even make a film was blossomed from the effect that the news
blossomed from the effect that the news
blossomed from the effect that the news outlets and the media was having on
outlets and the media was having on
outlets and the media was having on people like me after failing so long a
people like me after failing so long a
people like me after failing so long a feeling voiceless feeling like I was
feeling voiceless feeling like I was
feeling voiceless feeling like I was being compressed to this tiny little box
being compressed to this tiny little box
being compressed to this tiny little box the world didn’t want to see I decided
the world didn’t want to see I decided
the world didn’t want to see I decided that I needed to be heard the struggle
that I needed to be heard the struggle
that I needed to be heard the struggle of being this age the struggle of being
of being this age the struggle of being
of being this age the struggle of being 15 was that I have no legal say in my
15 was that I have no legal say in my
15 was that I have no legal say in my future I don’t have the right to vote
future I don’t have the right to vote
future I don’t have the right to vote and by my age there’s no legal rights
and by my age there’s no legal rights
and by my age there’s no legal rights for me to choose and to act but I
for me to choose and to act but I
for me to choose and to act but I learned that I have my voice my voice
learned that I have my voice my voice
learned that I have my voice my voice was all that I really need a couple
was all that I really need a couple
was all that I really need a couple years ago if you were to ask me what I
years ago if you were to ask me what I
years ago if you were to ask me what I thought about feminism I would be
thought about feminism I would be
thought about feminism I would be appalled because like most people for
appalled because like most people for
appalled because like most people for some unknown weird reason I had this
some unknown weird reason I had this
some unknown weird reason I had this idea that feminism and that if I were to
idea that feminism and that if I were to
idea that feminism and that if I were to say that I was a feminist would mean
say that I was a feminist would mean
say that I was a feminist would mean that I was a weak and whiny woman who
that I was a weak and whiny woman who
that I was a weak and whiny woman who was ungrateful for what she had and that
was ungrateful for what she had and that
was ungrateful for what she had and that is so not the case feminism is about
is so not the case feminism is about
is so not the case feminism is about creating equal playing fields not taking
creating equal playing fields not taking
creating equal playing fields not taking one gender over the other but creating a
one gender over the other but creating a
one gender over the other but creating a fair environment for each other to
fair environment for each other to
fair environment for each other to strive and so if you asked me today
strive and so if you asked me today
strive and so if you asked me today I would say that yes I’m 100% a feminist
I would say that yes I’m 100% a feminist
I would say that yes I’m 100% a feminist and so as election season came around I
and so as election season came around I
and so as election season came around I began to pay attention to social issues
began to pay attention to social issues
began to pay attention to social issues going on around the world I found out
going on around the world I found out
going on around the world I found out what I agreed with and what I didn’t but
what I agreed with and what I didn’t but
what I agreed with and what I didn’t but the one thing that I was always certain
the one thing that I was always certain
the one thing that I was always certain in was the idea of equality now it no
in was the idea of equality now it no
in was the idea of equality now it no longer matters whether or not you were
longer matters whether or not you were
longer matters whether or not you were on the left or the right of things but
on the left or the right of things but
on the left or the right of things but it is undeniable that there’s unrest in
it is undeniable that there’s unrest in
it is undeniable that there’s unrest in our society and that equality is scarce
our society and that equality is scarce
our society and that equality is scarce as much as it is heartbreaking and
as much as it is heartbreaking and
as much as it is heartbreaking and confusing to say but the fact is that
confusing to say but the fact is that
confusing to say but the fact is that you can’t blame someone to a certain
you can’t blame someone to a certain
you can’t blame someone to a certain extent about thinking negative thoughts
extent about thinking negative thoughts
extent about thinking negative thoughts about a religion or
about a religion or
about a religion or race because the fact is they simply
race because the fact is they simply
race because the fact is they simply don’t know and I realize this by asking
don’t know and I realize this by asking
don’t know and I realize this by asking people who knew me by asking my friends
people who knew me by asking my friends
people who knew me by asking my friends my teachers people at school what they
my teachers people at school what they
my teachers people at school what they thought about my religion and what they
thought about my religion and what they
thought about my religion and what they thought about me
thought about me
thought about me and I was shocked to realize that my
and I was shocked to realize that my
and I was shocked to realize that my closest friends have no idea who I am
closest friends have no idea who I am
closest friends have no idea who I am they don’t know what it means to be a
they don’t know what it means to be a
they don’t know what it means to be a Muslim they don’t know what it means to
Muslim they don’t know what it means to
Muslim they don’t know what it means to be me they don’t know what completes me
be me they don’t know what completes me
be me they don’t know what completes me and that is the biggest problem Mora
and that is the biggest problem Mora
and that is the biggest problem Mora needs to be dying to create awareness
needs to be dying to create awareness
needs to be dying to create awareness and to educate others about the people
and to educate others about the people
and to educate others about the people around us and our neighbors and to
around us and our neighbors and to
around us and our neighbors and to create an idea of acceptance throughout
create an idea of acceptance throughout
create an idea of acceptance throughout our whole community I’m grateful for my
our whole community I’m grateful for my
our whole community I’m grateful for my film and I learned that you as an
film and I learned that you as an
film and I learned that you as an individual possess so much more power
individual possess so much more power
individual possess so much more power than you are aware of we all have access
than you are aware of we all have access
than you are aware of we all have access to the Internet and we all have the
to the Internet and we all have the
to the Internet and we all have the resources to do what needs to be done
resources to do what needs to be done
resources to do what needs to be done it’s just a matter of finding something
it’s just a matter of finding something
it’s just a matter of finding something you really care about and fighting for
you really care about and fighting for
you really care about and fighting for it my film has provided me with the
it my film has provided me with the
it my film has provided me with the confidence to speak up and to fight for
confidence to speak up and to fight for
confidence to speak up and to fight for what I believe is right and so I
what I believe is right and so I
what I believe is right and so I attended several marches held fighting
attended several marches held fighting
attended several marches held fighting for our rights and I went to the women’s
for our rights and I went to the women’s
for our rights and I went to the women’s March most importantly it was March that
March most importantly it was March that
March most importantly it was March that took place the day after after the
took place the day after after the
took place the day after after the inauguration and the purpose was to send
inauguration and the purpose was to send
inauguration and the purpose was to send solidarity and to fight for equal gender
solidarity and to fight for equal gender
solidarity and to fight for equal gender rights and equal gender issues isn’t it
rights and equal gender issues isn’t it
rights and equal gender issues isn’t it ironic how one month I was being invited
ironic how one month I was being invited
ironic how one month I was being invited by the President to the White House and
by the President to the White House and
by the President to the White House and the next I was protesting so crazily
the next I was protesting so crazily
the next I was protesting so crazily good thing was two presidents and so the
good thing was two presidents and so the
good thing was two presidents and so the Woman’s March was a worldwide phenomenon
Woman’s March was a worldwide phenomenon
Woman’s March was a worldwide phenomenon held on every single continent every
held on every single continent every
held on every single continent every single continent there was a boat in the
single continent there was a boat in the
single continent there was a boat in the middle of the glaciers in Antarctica
middle of the glaciers in Antarctica
middle of the glaciers in Antarctica with about 30 people holding signs
with about 30 people holding signs
with about 30 people holding signs protesting and standing in solidarity
protesting and standing in solidarity
protesting and standing in solidarity that is the power of social media if you
that is the power of social media if you
that is the power of social media if you were to have asked me what I was
were to have asked me what I was
were to have asked me what I was fighting for at the woman’s March I
fighting for at the woman’s March I
fighting for at the woman’s March I would have said the right to be a woman
would have said the right to be a woman
would have said the right to be a woman and then a couple weeks later if you
and then a couple weeks later if you
and then a couple weeks later if you asked me the same question at the Muslim
asked me the same question at the Muslim
asked me the same question at the Muslim March I would have said the right to
March I would have said the right to
March I would have said the right to simply exist and that is a good thing we
simply exist and that is a good thing we
simply exist and that is a good thing we all have certain beliefs and we all have
all have certain beliefs and we all have
all have certain beliefs and we all have different passions and we all have the
different passions and we all have the
different passions and we all have the power to change the world with the
power to change the world with the
power to change the world with the technology and the power that we have
technology and the power that we have
technology and the power that we have today it is so incredibly easy it is so
today it is so incredibly easy it is so
today it is so incredibly easy it is so incredibly easy to pick up your phone
incredibly easy to pick up your phone
incredibly easy to pick up your phone say a few words and start a movement
say a few words and start a movement
say a few words and start a movement never underestimate the power of a
never underestimate the power of a
never underestimate the power of a retweet or like or share or even a crazy
retweet or like or share or even a crazy
retweet or like or share or even a crazy thought because right now at the age of
thought because right now at the age of
thought because right now at the age of 15 I know that our ideas even our
15 I know that our ideas even our
15 I know that our ideas even our silliest of ideas have the power to
silliest of ideas have the power to
silliest of ideas have the power to change the world
change the world
change the world [Applause]
”
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