[Music] today I come to share an experience that
today I come to share an experience that
today I come to share an experience that happened in the past it’s happening in
happened in the past it’s happening in
happened in the past it’s happening in the present it’s coming from the east
the present it’s coming from the east
the present it’s coming from the east from the west and I’m sure it has
from the west and I’m sure it has
from the west and I’m sure it has happened with you with you and you but
happened with you with you and you but
happened with you with you and you but with different people in different
with different people in different
with different people in different places and different locations and I
places and different locations and I
places and different locations and I want to share with you the form this
want to share with you the form this
want to share with you the form this experience have shown itself to me but
experience have shown itself to me but
experience have shown itself to me but it all starts in the 1960s with a
it all starts in the 1960s with a
it all starts in the 1960s with a gorgeously strong lady that is my mother
gorgeously strong lady that is my mother
gorgeously strong lady that is my mother when she was 13 years old she was this
when she was 13 years old she was this
when she was 13 years old she was this active and energetic girl and she found
active and energetic girl and she found
active and energetic girl and she found her love for sports but unfortunately
her love for sports but unfortunately
her love for sports but unfortunately she grew up in a community like many
she grew up in a community like many
she grew up in a community like many other communities in the past do not
other communities in the past do not
other communities in the past do not allow women to play sports so for my
allow women to play sports so for my
allow women to play sports so for my mother to go and share that passion with
mother to go and share that passion with
mother to go and share that passion with her parents the answer was but you want
her parents the answer was but you want
her parents the answer was but you want people to say about us do you want to
people to say about us do you want to
people to say about us do you want to bring shame to our family for my mom she
bring shame to our family for my mom she
bring shame to our family for my mom she did not understand why was a shame and
did not understand why was a shame and
did not understand why was a shame and she wanted to continue with her passion
she wanted to continue with her passion
she wanted to continue with her passion so she did that but for every game she
so she did that but for every game she
so she did that but for every game she had to go to she had to make up an
had to go to she had to make up an
had to go to she had to make up an excuse for every practice every meeting
excuse for every practice every meeting
excuse for every practice every meeting until she pulled a tower of excuses she
until she pulled a tower of excuses she
until she pulled a tower of excuses she made it professionally with handball
made it professionally with handball
made it professionally with handball shot pot and volleyball but it all had
shot pot and volleyball but it all had
shot pot and volleyball but it all had to be done under cover and hush-hush
to be done under cover and hush-hush
to be done under cover and hush-hush hearing about her stories and growing up
hearing about her stories and growing up
hearing about her stories and growing up around my mother in Canada I can see
around my mother in Canada I can see
around my mother in Canada I can see that scar in her but listening about her
that scar in her but listening about her
that scar in her but listening about her passion and sports and I went to my
passion and sports and I went to my
passion and sports and I went to my athletic genes I also developed an
athletic genes I also developed an
athletic genes I also developed an interest in sports in my early teens
interest in sports in my early teens
interest in sports in my early teens so I wanted to do something and I go
so I wanted to do something and I go
so I wanted to do something and I go ahead and I join my cross-country team
ahead and I join my cross-country team
ahead and I join my cross-country team in my high school but that was also
in my high school but that was also
in my high school but that was also around the time when I choose to put on
around the time when I choose to put on
around the time when I choose to put on my hijab
my hijab
my hijab that is my Islamic cut cover for me that
that is my Islamic cut cover for me that
that is my Islamic cut cover for me that was my choice
was my choice
was my choice it was identity it meant integrity and
it was identity it meant integrity and
it was identity it meant integrity and honesty for me but oh boy
honesty for me but oh boy
honesty for me but oh boy little did I know how much trouble I was
little did I know how much trouble I was
little did I know how much trouble I was gonna pull me in our high school
gonna pull me in our high school
gonna pull me in our high school practices took place outside and my high
practices took place outside and my high
practices took place outside and my high school name was sir Johnny McDonald so
school name was sir Johnny McDonald so
school name was sir Johnny McDonald so we had McDonald on our shirt so every
we had McDonald on our shirt so every
we had McDonald on our shirt so every time we had a practice outside people
time we had a practice outside people
time we had a practice outside people would just shout at us and say run for a
would just shout at us and say run for a
would just shout at us and say run for a free burger and we all had our comments
free burger and we all had our comments
free burger and we all had our comments from strangers but out of the whole team
from strangers but out of the whole team
from strangers but out of the whole team I would get the most comments some of
I would get the most comments some of
I would get the most comments some of them we’re encouraging like keep going
them we’re encouraging like keep going
them we’re encouraging like keep going you’re doing great and some of them
you’re doing great and some of them
you’re doing great and some of them we’re confused like aren’t you hot in
we’re confused like aren’t you hot in
we’re confused like aren’t you hot in beer and some of them we’re plane racist
beer and some of them we’re plane racist
beer and some of them we’re plane racist like girls like you shouldn’t be outside
like girls like you shouldn’t be outside
like girls like you shouldn’t be outside and go back home and I could not
and go back home and I could not
and go back home and I could not understand why I was getting all these
understand why I was getting all these
understand why I was getting all these comments that was suffocating not
comments that was suffocating not
comments that was suffocating not because of the scarf on my head but
because of the scarf on my head but
because of the scarf on my head but because of all the comments I was doing
because of all the comments I was doing
because of all the comments I was doing all the time regardless of all these
all the time regardless of all these
all the time regardless of all these comments from my experience I realized
comments from my experience I realized
comments from my experience I realized how important it was for me to live a
how important it was for me to live a
how important it was for me to live a healthy lifestyle and continue with
healthy lifestyle and continue with
healthy lifestyle and continue with health and physical education and
health and physical education and
health and physical education and fitness so that’s what I did in my
fitness so that’s what I did in my
fitness so that’s what I did in my university journey throughout that
university journey throughout that
university journey throughout that journey I was still running on campus
journey I was still running on campus
journey I was still running on campus until one day my professor calls me into
until one day my professor calls me into
until one day my professor calls me into the office and says Nora we see you
the office and says Nora we see you
the office and says Nora we see you doing all of these activities around
doing all of these activities around
doing all of these activities around campus but we really do not understand
campus but we really do not understand
campus but we really do not understand much about Muslim women in sports
much about Muslim women in sports
much about Muslim women in sports that was it at that moment I understood
that was it at that moment I understood
that was it at that moment I understood the crux of the problem it was lack of
the crux of the problem it was lack of
the crux of the problem it was lack of awareness I saw there’s that’s it there
awareness I saw there’s that’s it there
awareness I saw there’s that’s it there is a chance for me to better connect and
is a chance for me to better connect and
is a chance for me to better connect and better communicate and you see media has
better communicate and you see media has
better communicate and you see media has done it’s damages its influences is
done it’s damages its influences is
done it’s damages its influences is everywhere it tells us what to do what
everywhere it tells us what to do what
everywhere it tells us what to do what to think how to think and for female
to think how to think and for female
to think how to think and for female athletes to be represented in media they
athletes to be represented in media they
athletes to be represented in media they have their struggles for Muslim females
have their struggles for Muslim females
have their struggles for Muslim females to be represented in media for the most
to be represented in media for the most
to be represented in media for the most part they’re always under the wrong
part they’re always under the wrong
part they’re always under the wrong lights for Muslim female athletes to be
lights for Muslim female athletes to be
lights for Muslim female athletes to be represented in media they have to fight
represented in media they have to fight
represented in media they have to fight for other voices to be heard and
for other voices to be heard and
for other voices to be heard and amplified so I ended up writing a paper
amplified so I ended up writing a paper
amplified so I ended up writing a paper with Nancy Francis at Brock University
with Nancy Francis at Brock University
with Nancy Francis at Brock University and from that paper I was able to see
and from that paper I was able to see
and from that paper I was able to see that there is a community over here that
that there is a community over here that
that there is a community over here that is scared to ask and there is a
is scared to ask and there is a
is scared to ask and there is a community over here there being victims
community over here there being victims
community over here there being victims of stereotypes and I said I refuse to be
of stereotypes and I said I refuse to be
of stereotypes and I said I refuse to be a victim of anything so I wanted to step
a victim of anything so I wanted to step
a victim of anything so I wanted to step in and say hey it’s not as hard as it
in and say hey it’s not as hard as it
in and say hey it’s not as hard as it seems there is something that we can do
seems there is something that we can do
seems there is something that we can do and I wanted to both bridges and connect
and I wanted to both bridges and connect
and I wanted to both bridges and connect people together so I was thinking about
people together so I was thinking about
people together so I was thinking about ideas and what can I do so I run to my
ideas and what can I do so I run to my
ideas and what can I do so I run to my professor amazing professor Peter Wright
professor amazing professor Peter Wright
professor amazing professor Peter Wright Kent from Brock University – and he
Kent from Brock University – and he
Kent from Brock University – and he gives me the best advice ever and
gives me the best advice ever and
gives me the best advice ever and connects me to the education board and
connects me to the education board and
connects me to the education board and from there my paper was being presented
from there my paper was being presented
from there my paper was being presented in conferences it was being taken out
in conferences it was being taken out
in conferences it was being taken out for physical education teachers to use
for physical education teachers to use
for physical education teachers to use and the paper was doing something it was
and the paper was doing something it was
and the paper was doing something it was helping people and from there I was
helping people and from there I was
helping people and from there I was volunteering in my community spreading
volunteering in my community spreading
volunteering in my community spreading the message of health and helping youth
the message of health and helping youth
the message of health and helping youth and
and
and it was I was able to see that my dreams
it was I was able to see that my dreams
it was I was able to see that my dreams are unfolding and I was able to see
are unfolding and I was able to see
are unfolding and I was able to see there was some sort of change but it was
there was some sort of change but it was
there was some sort of change but it was never roses and sunshine
never roses and sunshine
never roses and sunshine I had my struggles I got to work later
I had my struggles I got to work later
I had my struggles I got to work later as a physical education teacher and
as a physical education teacher and
as a physical education teacher and comments from parents like I do not want
comments from parents like I do not want
comments from parents like I do not want my children to play physical education
my children to play physical education
my children to play physical education it’s just playtime or I do not want my
it’s just playtime or I do not want my
it’s just playtime or I do not want my girl to play this game because it’s only
girl to play this game because it’s only
girl to play this game because it’s only for boys and comments like that just
for boys and comments like that just
for boys and comments like that just wanted me to shake the world Intelli for
wanted me to shake the world Intelli for
wanted me to shake the world Intelli for everyone
everyone
everyone your health comes first yes we do play
your health comes first yes we do play
your health comes first yes we do play in PE but we play with purpose and we
in PE but we play with purpose and we
in PE but we play with purpose and we learn through movement
learn through movement
learn through movement so I wanted to go morons but the message
so I wanted to go morons but the message
so I wanted to go morons but the message of health life throws a challenge on my
of health life throws a challenge on my
of health life throws a challenge on my face and I say challenge accepted that
face and I say challenge accepted that
face and I say challenge accepted that challenge was moving the different part
challenge was moving the different part
challenge was moving the different part of the world and that is the Middle East
of the world and that is the Middle East
of the world and that is the Middle East I said all right bring her on what can I
I said all right bring her on what can I
I said all right bring her on what can I do
do
do where can I take the message of health
where can I take the message of health
where can I take the message of health what else what else is there for me and
what else what else is there for me and
what else what else is there for me and so I packed my luggage and I packed my
so I packed my luggage and I packed my
so I packed my luggage and I packed my message of health inside and I pick it
message of health inside and I pick it
message of health inside and I pick it up and I moved I thought okay I’m moving
up and I moved I thought okay I’m moving
up and I moved I thought okay I’m moving someplace where I should fit in I was
someplace where I should fit in I was
someplace where I should fit in I was wrong
wrong
wrong my first week meeting colleagues from
my first week meeting colleagues from
my first week meeting colleagues from the same profession was not really what
the same profession was not really what
the same profession was not really what I expected my table turning moment was
I expected my table turning moment was
I expected my table turning moment was when a colleague came to my face and
when a colleague came to my face and
when a colleague came to my face and said an Arab should never be a PE
said an Arab should never be a PE
said an Arab should never be a PE teacher because Arabs are lazy I was
teacher because Arabs are lazy I was
teacher because Arabs are lazy I was like what excuse me
like what excuse me
like what excuse me and the comments didn’t stop there so
and the comments didn’t stop there so
and the comments didn’t stop there so I just dove into myself and I said
I just dove into myself and I said
I just dove into myself and I said you’re being told all of these names
you’re being told all of these names
you’re being told all of these names you’re being judged you’re lazy you’re
you’re being judged you’re lazy you’re
you’re being judged you’re lazy you’re unfit it’s your first week here and they
unfit it’s your first week here and they
unfit it’s your first week here and they don’t even know you or know or have seen
don’t even know you or know or have seen
don’t even know you or know or have seen your work all right girl you’re not here
your work all right girl you’re not here
your work all right girl you’re not here to fight you’re not here to retaliate
to fight you’re not here to retaliate
to fight you’re not here to retaliate you’re here to spread the message of
you’re here to spread the message of
you’re here to spread the message of health focus so that’s what I did I
health focus so that’s what I did I
health focus so that’s what I did I started seeking for ideas and ways how
started seeking for ideas and ways how
started seeking for ideas and ways how can I spread that message of health I’m
can I spread that message of health I’m
can I spread that message of health I’m working as a physical education teacher
working as a physical education teacher
working as a physical education teacher but what else can I do
but what else can I do
but what else can I do I started writing articles they started
I started writing articles they started
I started writing articles they started getting published I was volunteering in
getting published I was volunteering in
getting published I was volunteering in my community with every chance I was
my community with every chance I was
my community with every chance I was able to take I’m still working as a
able to take I’m still working as a
able to take I’m still working as a physical education teacher and trying to
physical education teacher and trying to
physical education teacher and trying to spread the message of health trying to
spread the message of health trying to
spread the message of health trying to connect and communicate until life puts
connect and communicate until life puts
connect and communicate until life puts in my way an amazing person that Saif
in my way an amazing person that Saif
in my way an amazing person that Saif Ali most inspirational person ever he
Ali most inspirational person ever he
Ali most inspirational person ever he allows me to hijack his show with my
allows me to hijack his show with my
allows me to hijack his show with my healthy tips and now I have a message on
healthy tips and now I have a message on
healthy tips and now I have a message on health fitness and nutrition every day
health fitness and nutrition every day
health fitness and nutrition every day on the radio and as a result of all of
on the radio and as a result of all of
on the radio and as a result of all of that I was classified as a game changer
that I was classified as a game changer
that I was classified as a game changer and a change maker and as you see in the
and a change maker and as you see in the
and a change maker and as you see in the fitness and health field life didn’t
fitness and health field life didn’t
fitness and health field life didn’t stop there that wasn’t enough for me I
stop there that wasn’t enough for me I
stop there that wasn’t enough for me I wanted to go for more I want to spread
wanted to go for more I want to spread
wanted to go for more I want to spread the message more what else can I do
the message more what else can I do
the message more what else can I do so still connecting communicating with
so still connecting communicating with
so still connecting communicating with people until I hear about this event
people until I hear about this event
people until I hear about this event where someone big in the sports field is
where someone big in the sports field is
where someone big in the sports field is gonna be there and they say all right
gonna be there and they say all right
gonna be there and they say all right girl that’s her a chance go and learn
girl that’s her a chance go and learn
girl that’s her a chance go and learn and that’s what I do and I get a chance
and that’s what I do and I get a chance
and that’s what I do and I get a chance to talk to that person he’s a known
to talk to that person he’s a known
to talk to that person he’s a known presenter on a known sports Channel and
presenter on a known sports Channel and
presenter on a known sports Channel and I was like all right that’s your chance
I was like all right that’s your chance
I was like all right that’s your chance let’s go let’s learn so I meet
let’s go let’s learn so I meet
let’s go let’s learn so I meet and I asked what do you think of female
and I asked what do you think of female
and I asked what do you think of female athletes representation in media and he
athletes representation in media and he
athletes representation in media and he said well it’s unfair they don’t got
said well it’s unfair they don’t got
said well it’s unfair they don’t got much representation in media but you
much representation in media but you
much representation in media but you know it’s all explained their nervous
know it’s all explained their nervous
know it’s all explained their nervous system connection to their muscle is
system connection to their muscle is
system connection to their muscle is different than that of men so that
different than that of men so that
different than that of men so that explains at all and I was like what did
explains at all and I was like what did
explains at all and I was like what did I just hear I do not remember sleeping
I just hear I do not remember sleeping
I just hear I do not remember sleeping in my anatomy class in University and I
in my anatomy class in University and I
in my anatomy class in University and I was startled from that comment what that
was startled from that comment what that
was startled from that comment what that woman I saw my mom right in front of my
woman I saw my mom right in front of my
woman I saw my mom right in front of my face and all the amazing females that
face and all the amazing females that
face and all the amazing females that have made it big in the sports field
have made it big in the sports field
have made it big in the sports field have you not heard about Serena Williams
have you not heard about Serena Williams
have you not heard about Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey and their achievements
and Ronda Rousey and their achievements
and Ronda Rousey and their achievements in sports have he not heated about Bala
in sports have he not heated about Bala
in sports have he not heated about Bala Jean King and how she changed the status
Jean King and how she changed the status
Jean King and how she changed the status quo of women in sports have you not
quo of women in sports have you not
quo of women in sports have you not heard about it has Muhammad and her
heard about it has Muhammad and her
heard about it has Muhammad and her amazing achievements in the Olympics and
amazing achievements in the Olympics and
amazing achievements in the Olympics and how she also not only represented her
how she also not only represented her
how she also not only represented her country but represents her faith openly
country but represents her faith openly
country but represents her faith openly and and the amazing you strimer Dini who
and and the amazing you strimer Dini who
and and the amazing you strimer Dini who swam the sea for those whose homes were
swam the sea for those whose homes were
swam the sea for those whose homes were torn away all of these amazing women had
torn away all of these amazing women had
torn away all of these amazing women had different weirdly connected nervous
different weirdly connected nervous
different weirdly connected nervous system to their muscles that moment I
system to their muscles that moment I
system to their muscles that moment I realized how different we are how the
realized how different we are how the
realized how different we are how the world is different and that’s amazing
world is different and that’s amazing
world is different and that’s amazing that’s beautiful but that scares some
that’s beautiful but that scares some
that’s beautiful but that scares some individuals and for them to understand
individuals and for them to understand
individuals and for them to understand and make sense of the world they start
and make sense of the world they start
and make sense of the world they start putting and classifying and making boxes
putting and classifying and making boxes
putting and classifying and making boxes of others so they can make sense of this
of others so they can make sense of this
of others so they can make sense of this complexity and we call those boxes
complexity and we call those boxes
complexity and we call those boxes stereotypes for the most part the
stereotypes for the most part the
stereotypes for the most part the inaccurate each and every one of you
inaccurate each and every one of you
inaccurate each and every one of you have had some level put to them in their
have had some level put to them in their
have had some level put to them in their lives religion race gender different
lives religion race gender different
lives religion race gender different faces of the same coin
faces of the same coin
faces of the same coin at one point we pay homage to them we
at one point we pay homage to them we
at one point we pay homage to them we are identified with them and we respect
are identified with them and we respect
are identified with them and we respect them as we practice them in our daily
them as we practice them in our daily
them as we practice them in our daily lives on a different hand people will
lives on a different hand people will
lives on a different hand people will take those I take advantage of time to
take those I take advantage of time to
take those I take advantage of time to put us in boxes so they can make sense
put us in boxes so they can make sense
put us in boxes so they can make sense of who we are and if we choose to jump
of who we are and if we choose to jump
of who we are and if we choose to jump out of those boxes were ridiculed and
out of those boxes were ridiculed and
out of those boxes were ridiculed and were mocked for me I was put in boxes
were mocked for me I was put in boxes
were mocked for me I was put in boxes that had definition according to my
that had definition according to my
that had definition according to my gender according to my religion
gender according to my religion
gender according to my religion according to my race and I do not belong
according to my race and I do not belong
according to my race and I do not belong to any of those definitions to those
to any of those definitions to those
to any of those definitions to those boxes you see as long as you’re doing
boxes you see as long as you’re doing
boxes you see as long as you’re doing something that represents you and true
something that represents you and true
something that represents you and true to your identity people would question
to your identity people would question
to your identity people would question and if they can understand it you’ll be
and if they can understand it you’ll be
and if they can understand it you’ll be ridiculed and mocked I remember
ridiculed and mocked I remember
ridiculed and mocked I remember listening to an amazing interview by
listening to an amazing interview by
listening to an amazing interview by rahama Heydrich the first arab female
rahama Heydrich the first arab female
rahama Heydrich the first arab female the first muslim female to climb Mount
the first muslim female to climb Mount
the first muslim female to climb Mount Everest and the interviewer asked her
Everest and the interviewer asked her
Everest and the interviewer asked her how do you feel about being the first to
how do you feel about being the first to
how do you feel about being the first to climb Mount Everest and she said I am
climb Mount Everest and she said I am
climb Mount Everest and she said I am proud to be the first but as long as I
proud to be the first but as long as I
proud to be the first but as long as I inspire someone to be the next I am
inspire someone to be the next I am
inspire someone to be the next I am happy and for you to be the next they
happy and for you to be the next they
happy and for you to be the next they will tell you that all of those amazing
will tell you that all of those amazing
will tell you that all of those amazing females have made it big because of
females have made it big because of
females have made it big because of their willpower
their willpower
their willpower that’s something you should have but I
that’s something you should have but I
that’s something you should have but I believe in the magic of why power why do
believe in the magic of why power why do
believe in the magic of why power why do you want to do something a certain way
you want to do something a certain way
you want to do something a certain way not the other way why have you chosen
not the other way why have you chosen
not the other way why have you chosen this path that a different path
this path that a different path
this path that a different path why you want to do something not the
why you want to do something not the
why you want to do something not the other thing why ask yourself the
other thing why ask yourself the
other thing why ask yourself the miniatur are clear under why nothing
miniatur are clear under why nothing
miniatur are clear under why nothing will stop you
will stop you
will stop you it will also drive the hideous judgment
it will also drive the hideous judgment
it will also drive the hideous judgment of the other people when they start
of the other people when they start
of the other people when they start questioning your motives and their
questioning your motives and their
questioning your motives and their question their beliefs and that will
question their beliefs and that will
question their beliefs and that will drive the hideous judgment out of their
drive the hideous judgment out of their
drive the hideous judgment out of their ignorance when they see you that you are
ignorance when they see you that you are
ignorance when they see you that you are clear on your message and you’re going
clear on your message and you’re going
clear on your message and you’re going and you are true to who you are so you
and you are true to who you are so you
and you are true to who you are so you want to be the next beatboxer why you
want to be the next beatboxer why you
want to be the next beatboxer why you want to be the next PhD astrophysicists
want to be the next PhD astrophysicists
want to be the next PhD astrophysicists ask yourself why and once you’re clear
ask yourself why and once you’re clear
ask yourself why and once you’re clear on drew why that’s when nothing can stop
on drew why that’s when nothing can stop
on drew why that’s when nothing can stop you and that’s when all the naysayers
you and that’s when all the naysayers
you and that’s when all the naysayers and their comments will be just Nori’s
and their comments will be just Nori’s
and their comments will be just Nori’s in the background and that’s when the
in the background and that’s when the
in the background and that’s when the universe in no time will be on your side
universe in no time will be on your side
universe in no time will be on your side back in your message up and you’re
back in your message up and you’re
back in your message up and you’re flying
flying
flying it’s a beautiful journey once you’re
it’s a beautiful journey once you’re
it’s a beautiful journey once you’re clear and you’re accountable of your
clear and you’re accountable of your
clear and you’re accountable of your message
message
message it’s a beautiful journey enjoy it
it’s a beautiful journey enjoy it
it’s a beautiful journey enjoy it big furious keep moving forward and
big furious keep moving forward and
big furious keep moving forward and along the way learn and educate and help
along the way learn and educate and help
along the way learn and educate and help people out to find their journey a lot
people out to find their journey a lot
people out to find their journey a lot of amazing things haven’t been figured
of amazing things haven’t been figured
of amazing things haven’t been figured out yet because people do not have the
out yet because people do not have the
out yet because people do not have the right awareness about embarking on to
right awareness about embarking on to
right awareness about embarking on to their expeditions for me I will keep
their expeditions for me I will keep
their expeditions for me I will keep doing my best to uplift the status of
doing my best to uplift the status of
doing my best to uplift the status of physical education spread the message of
physical education spread the message of
physical education spread the message of health healthy habits and fitness and
health healthy habits and fitness and
health healthy habits and fitness and unity because I know why
at the end of the day beyond all hate
at the end of the day beyond all hate all politics all labels the field fits
all politics all labels the field fits
all politics all labels the field fits for everyone thank you
for everyone thank you
for everyone thank you [Applause]
”
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