Nareman

AGE 17

I believe that life goes on, whatever happens. If we don’t fall we’re not going to learn how to stand up.

I was born in Syria. After one year in Syria we went to Iraq because my parents are Iraqi. We lived there for something like seven years. During that time it was very dangerous to live in Iraq so my family decided to go back to Syria. I was feeling very down and sad because I didn’t want to leave my friends. I know I was young but I still remember them a bit. I don’t have a lot of interesting memories of Iraq.

In Syria I had the best days instead of bad days. When my beautiful country Syria started having another war, for me it was not that easy but I got used to it. I wish that the war in Syria would go away.

Then that terrible day happened. I will never forget it – the day when my best friend died. We were like sisters. We were coming home from church. My friend and I were on the bus when she told me that she had a bad feeling. Then she told me these words, ‘Nareman, maybe you will not see me anymore.’ I laughed and didn’t take her seriously. As she got off the bus she hugged me so tight and kissed my cheeks. That was the last time I saw her. Two minutes later I heard an explosion. I got off the bus and saw her lying on the ground; her whole body was blood. When the ambulance came, I ran to it and told them she was my sister so they let me go with her to the hospital, where she died. Everything went after she went. I felt a great sadness until now.

Oh my god, losing someone you used to share dreams with is not that easy, especially a best friend. I miss her so much. I can’t see her anymore.

When I heard that my family had decided to go to Australia I felt sad and worried. Basically I didn’t want to leave my country, my friends, my school, my home – everything that I was used to having. But what could I do? There’s nothing I could say, and even if I did, who was going to listen? If I’d been old enough I would have chosen not to leave.

I remember being at the airport talking to my friend and crying. When my tears were about to finish I still felt sad that young people like us can be so sad. Before this I thought that I would only cry when my mum stopped buying me lollies or dolls, but actually I was wrong. I’ve cried a lot in my life. Compared with a normal girl I’ve lost a lot of great things in my life, even people. I’ve lost a lot of them. I wish I could go back in time. But what can I do? I came to Australia, this multicultural country, for better opportunities and a better future for all my family, especially for my little sister to get better and get help with her diabetes.

Here everything is so different from Syria and even Iraq. I can’t remember Iraq that much but still Australia is a better country for me to build a good future and to be a good person.

My life has taught me to not stop trying, and to not give up. Whatever will happen, life will never stop.