Thursday, February 29, 2024

My career day speech - 2/29/24

Assalamu Alaikum WRWB



4th graders in the house, do you know my name? Yes, my name is Sr Fathima Sulaiman and I was blessed to have been educated at an Islamic international girls’ school - the first of its kind on an island that was being torn apart by a civil war. Does anyone know which country that is?


Yes, I was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka - a tropical paradise, bordered by beautiful beaches and calm oceans where the summer is a whole year long.


Although my parents may not share, I am sure they sacrificed what they could, to put my siblings and myself through a quality education and I feel my story resonates with many of my students both here at RSA and outside.


Having a very wide array of interests and disciplines that I enjoyed, it was especially difficult for me to choose a career path. I was in every club you can name. I fancied art, technology, architecture, debating, science, gardening, maps… Yes, the list is too long for five minutes. I had more career goals than I could count.  Now you might think that that's a good thing and it is until it's time to pick a favorite.  Like most of us do, I prayed. I asked  Allah to guide me toward a future I couldn’t clearly see and He did. Eventually, our paths do find us; so please hang in there. As stated by Mahatma Gandhi we have to be the change we wish to see. 


Once I entered college, it was like being pushed into the deep end on the first day of swim class. Nevertheless, some of the best days of my life were at college. Crazy fun-filled days coupled with daunting moments of academic stress and roller coaster emotions came crashing down. Navigating a world that was much wider than the bubble-wrapped bubble we grew up in was sometimes excruciating but it was time to face the bridge between adolescence and adulthood, head-on. Being in the student activity club and editorial committee of the college magazine, our campus was always a hive of buzzing activity. We organized Iftars, game nights, concerts, talent shows, talks, road trips, coding contests, and leadership workshops.  Team projects were an exciting nightmare because I always started on day one while some of my friends waited for the last minute. Every day was filled with thrilling adventures and happy memories. I majored in Business Information Technology and graduated with first-class honors, Alhamdelillah. Those years do go by faster than you think. 

 

Eventually, I would learn that the paths we choose don't matter as much as the person we grow to be. The relationships we build in school and college, can last a lifetime. Who we are on the inside and our values create our road map to success. This winter I was privileged to meet my college friend, also a hijabee, who circumnavigated the coast of Australia including the death route all by herself. Her amazing transformation and stories from the wilderness of her journey show that we continue to grow as individuals far beyond the walls of the classroom. Another college mate I met there, had started his own software firm in Australia employing hundreds of people all around the country and even the world. Some of my friends got their PHDs and others are leaders of the industries they work in. 


So how did I get into teaching? My high school friends used to have me explain concepts to them and to my surprise, they seemed to enjoy it. So it was my school friends who first helped me discover my knack for teaching and tried to encourage me to get into education. I didn't necessarily take that advice at first. 


After college, I took up a job at a firm where I learned how to manage people and software but my love for teaching kept calling me. I finally decided to take up an offer to lecture at a college where I was able to bring my passion to life. Every day I woke up looking forward to my day which felt more like a vacation than a job. I loved how expressive undergraduates could be with their ideas. we had a great time learning from one another.

I hadn’t planned to stay there for long though and parallelly started my MBA so I could get back into the corporate world. As life often works out, Allah has different plans for me. 


Fast forward a few years and I found myself in a classroom full of energetic 8th graders in the cold winter of New Jersey. Not exactly my ideal career plan but I loved teaching them. One student from that class stands out in my memories. He went on to create an AI startup that revolutionized the way advertising in cabs worked. Many others are doctors, lawyers, and engineers today Masha Allah. We now run our own robotics training company where our teams have won multiple awards at robotics leagues. 


So many students have told me that they rediscovered their love for science in my class. They rekindled their adventurous spirits while learning because I had them seated at the edge of their seats with forensics and crime documentaries, killer whale stories, and of course explosive experiments. There is so much contentment in sharing your enthusiasm for the subjects you love. I know now that I have found my home. 


Completing my master's in education was a daring move on my part because this time, along with tight deadlines, late-night assignments, and piles of textbooks to get through, I had to juggle the needs of my children and family. I worked very hard and didn’t give up despite my struggles because this was exactly what we teach our students, don't we?


The impact we have as educators far outlives us and these are some of the reasons that we choose to be here empowering our next generation not just to do great things but also to be great individuals. It is through the pursuit of our dreams that we come alive. So don’t stop dreaming and dream big!


Find the joy in the little things around you.  Be a lifelong learner always willing to explore and grow. Pay it forward. And most of all, hold close and tight to the rope of Allah because without our faith we truly are alone. 


Jazakallahu Kheir 


Thursday, February 18, 2021

Texas Power Outage

 We went through the following feelings.. with each disaster

Shock

Fear

Anger

Sorrow

I went through this with Tsunami, then Sandy in NJ, then covid19 and now the winter storm in Texas.


What doesn't break you, makes you stronger.



Saturday, April 18, 2020

Of moments that were lost...

Between the husband, and myself we used to take turns to go tharaweeh at the Masjid because someone needed to stay home with the kids. Most of the times, I would pray at home and let him go the masjid but I remember there was this one night that I so badly wanted to go but my husband had already left and I had all the children with me. I remember packing them into the minivan. The youngest was the sleeping baby in the car seat that I had to carry into the masjid through a dark path. Somehow I felt like I needed to be there to pray with everyone even though it was incredible difficult for me with two sleeping toddlers, and two more to keep an eye on... I remember I was afraid that the little one will wake up and cry and disturb all the other worshippers. Whenever he cooed i regretted going... Little did I realize that, that night was going to be the last congregational tharaweeh for me for a long time to come. I feel so blessed and happy that I decided to go that night despite it being so hard for me. You never know when a missed opportunity would come back to haunt you so seize the moment, do your best. Praying that we make it to this blessed month.... praying that the world returns to more goodness than ever before.... Wishing you a tranquil Ramadan with the strongest thaqwa and iman! Duas for all!
Remember to be kind to kids and mums with kids in masjids if you ever get another chance!

Too late to regret

We never thought it would come back to haunt us....

That student that you were too busy to hug, at the end of a bad day
That  dentist or medical appointment that you kept putting off since there is time to get to it later
That last congregational prayer and community cook off
Seize the moment
Do it..

Saturday, April 04, 2020

How do we get through this?

I don't write as good as I used to .... but I will give it a go if it means it may help someone

Our household has 8 people so someone needs something almost all the time. It's easy to spread out too thin. My feelings go from good to bad to worse to good again in several cycles within an hour. I never had to worry about finishing rations or being out of baby wipes. Since my parents are diabetic and have underlying conditions I am somewhat paranoid. Here's how I try to get through my days.

- Do your best - that's all I can do

Be Busy - Being Busy is better than Being Worried

- Have a set of goals
- Prioritize - For me work related work is more important than house work so I get that done first

Small bitable chunks of work with achievable objectives
- Pinch out small manageable projects around the house that I know I can get done. So if you clean the microwave, then save the fridge for the day or pick one counter or one side of your closet to deep clean at a time.

Relaxation time is important
- Let go - some things can go undone
- Take care of myself, brush my hair, watch my health and personal hygiene
- Have kids shower every other day all on the same day so its easier to keep track. There's no need to shower them every day
- Divert attention from the problem at hand, watch a movie or do something fun to lighten up
- Every now and then, do an activity with the family, we may never have this family time again
- Its ok to forget about things for a while
- My children need not be the center of the universe all the time

If you are up to it, write, vlog, blog... do something to record third for the history books your great grand kids will read about!

Communicate 
With yourself - Its ok to feel sad and cry - acknowledge that
With God - Keep at prayer. Find comfort in the fact that you did your best and let the the rest in His hands
With Everyone else- Communicate - let people know your current feeling at the time so they can give you your space or offer to help
- Keep in touch with friends and family - they might need it more than I

All in all we are ok. We were not wired for this. But we do have the mental capacity to prepare for and get through it. One day at a time...

Give
Find peace and comfort in helping others
Whether its making someone smile or lending food to those who can't go get it

And Finally...
Avoid sharing pictures of food and fun. Some are grieving lost loved ones. Others are taking out that last slice of bread from the packs. Have empathy. Don't share too many good times that hurt others who don't have them.
...because getting through this is the only way to reach the other side!

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Thank you for all the grey hair you have given me!

You always ask me "What's the worse that could happen"
Like your blood group you have shown me how to be positive and see the light at the end of the most vicious tunnels of life
You told me to let go and not sweat the small stuff
As you get older I thank you for sharing our lives together... for helping... with breakfast and more.
Thank you for working hard every day for us... Thank you for tea in bed and occasional breakfast in bed too!
For being a good dad
Thank you also for allowing me to shout or vent when I need to.
To mars and back...
Love you always and insha Allah until we are too old to remember....

Happy 45th and many more good ones IA

Here we go

Sunday, March 15, 2020

To my dearest dad



 So many problems that you encountered  while we were growing up..
 Some you chose not to share with us.
 So l MAY NEVER know what you had to go through to give us your best
 Everything little and big that you did and are still doing, is in the bottom of our hearts...
 You inspired every moment of our childhood
 You took the time off your schedule for family vacations, making kites, painting  pictures, making recycle.. calendars, cycling, river baths and burning paper with a  magnifying glass.  Star gazing with a telescope, spending the weekends car washing or spring  cleaning. The memories of a  well lived life are too precious to lose.  And as we become older and realize the joys and pains of parenting we appreciate  more and more  the trouble you and mama took to implant these beautiful memories of our  wonderful childhood, deep in our hearts.  So while of rain my hands to Ask Allah to shower you with the best of both worlds, thank Him for a truly wonderful family and blend childhood that's had As a tear makes it way down my face. I see some of those dads out there who are there but never there. You were always there... I thank you for instilling good character in us, making us proud of you.

A virus takes over

Here is what I really feel

I feel scared. Even writing doesn't soothe me

Will we get through this?

Will we have enough food to feed 8 mouths?

I'm terrified

I didn't buy one single hand wash, soap or disinfectant wipe so we have to do with what we have at home. The day I went, the shelves were empty

Here are the facts ;https://ncov2019.live/data


Friday, January 31, 2020

Life is not worth all the drama

When I first came to this land... brave and free was very remote from what I was feeling... I was Lonely with a capital L.

I had never been lonely before so I didn't really understand its depths. My husband did what husbands usually do... disappearing back and forth to work and I took onto a life that was homebound, somewhat boring and adventure-less. Very much different from what I was used to. I had always been around people and friends and family and this strange feeling was something I tried to ignore. I found new hobbies and worked on things I had no time for before. I took a lot of getting used to and adapting. When the baby came, life became all about the baby but I was still extremely lonely. I had no choice about getting back to a career because for one - I had the babies and on top of that I was on an h4 visa. So I had to just wait out those five years. Sometimes I was irritable and annoyed and it was not the best years of my life. To top it off the winters were brutal and I realized cold was something I am never going to get myself to like.

Fast forward 12 years and I have not only gotten used to this different type of lifestyle of lonesomeness but in many ways actually enjoy the privacy and self time that it allows. I value my home life and love being home. The grass IS always greener isn't it? Of the things I enjoy, I mostly enjoy the freedom of being able to live life the way we would like to live it. We eat when we are hungry and sleep when we are tired and clean house when we feel like it or it gets messier than manageable. Some days are good, others are bad but most days are just ok and that's how it is supposed to be.

You see, there is really no point in having everything so rushed and well managed and well organized. People matter but not to the extent where you change your life to make them happy. I skipped a year at school and was the youngest in my class but what good did it do me?

Life will take its own course on you anyway. No matter what you do, bad and good events will take turns. Life is hard no matter what, then why make it harder by overburdening ourselves with useless activities that demand too much from ourselves when we are just a speck of dust in this universe. 100 years from now no one will even remember our names. Just imagine that and we worry so much about our reputations when we are alive. We need people and good relationships but its not worth dying trying to please everyone because we are literally dying... no matter what. lol

Life is hard enough without having to try so like my wise old spouse I decided to sit at the back seat and relax and be a passenger in the journey of life - not a driver. I worked so hard and tried to be perfect but life showed me that I have zero control over it. Since of late I have had various doubts about the one thing that always kept me together and that's my religion. I believe in God and the Prophet but I don't understand why so many things are so confused and why there are so many grey areas in key concepts.

I have learned not to stress over mundane matters. I have learned to relax and let things go. At the end of the day it simply is not worth it because life will take its course on you anyway. it took me a long time to reach this state of mind because I always tried to control everything that happened to me and at the end of the day all my hard work didn't matter and I just had to wait out things. So no, I wont push myself anymore, I wont wreck my children's childhood and I wont let bad memories happen for no reason... Happiness and fun is not everything and is definitely overated but we have to have fun.... its the one thing we love about being human, isn't it?

Its time the world knew

All that glitters is not gold
You cant believe everything that you are told
Life isn't as pretty as they say
But if you could have it any other way
What would you change what would you throw away?