A family journey, a golden sun, and Adhraa about to come into the world.

That’s how the year 2002 began for her — born on a quiet January 1 in Baghdad, Iraq. Her arrival turned packed suitcases into still moments and filled her parents’ arms with a joy so vast it seemed endless.

Her early years were wrapped in laughter, surrounded by other children, barefoot memories, and the kind of simplicity that only childhood can afford. But soon, the warmth of her village began to cool — a place that once nurtured little ones now felt like it no longer wanted them. The soldiers, once symbols of safety in her young mind, became shadows of fear.

Still, Adhraa loved her village. She was enchanted by the rhythm of daily life, the closeness of family, and the magic of the classroom.

Iraq: The First Home

At five years old, as the school year blossomed, she met someone who would shape her heart forever — her teacher. A graceful woman with cascading hair, elegance in every gesture, and a presence that made learning feel like a gift. In that classroom, a seed quietly bloomed inside Adhraa: the desire to teach, to guide, to inspire.

But her father had different plans — to protect the family after being noticed that he would be the target of a group of people.

After a harrowing rescue of Adhraa’s kidnapped uncle, her father made a decision that would change everything: they would leave Iraq. They packed the bags and began a long drive through shifting landscapes, and the silent end of childhood.

Syria: A Pause in Childhood

Syria was the transit, a kind of purgatory before the heaven that she imagined would be Germany.

A small apartment, two fleeting months of school spread across nearly two years, and the slow building of resilience. Syria was a hard and limited chapter for her. Between four walls she shared the space with her mom, her brother, her sister and her aunts. There was room for everything except the typical needs of a child: school, friends and a normal routine.

Life felt temporary.

And though Adhraa thought hardship might numb the pain of goodbyes, it didn’t. Parting from her aunts tore a quiet hole in her heart.

Germany: A Dream in Order

She imagined Germany like a fairy tale: rolling green meadows, animals roaming free, endless blue skies, and a sun that kissed the golden hair of blond strangers.

But reality arrived wrapped in regulations and rules — so many that joy sometimes struggled to breathe.

The weight of structure made her long for the chaos of her homeland — for that imperfect, unruly place that still whispered “home.”

Because for Adhraa, home wasn’t a location — it was belonging.

It was where your soul feels seen.
It was where family lives, and where your name carries the story of who you are.

For her, that place was Iraq.

But Iraq had become her enemy.

And no one can call their enemy home.

So, the journey of a quiet, wide-eyed seven-year-old began in the so-called First World.

She marveled at everything — the spotless streets, the rhythm of order, the invisible net of safety, the way people respected silence and time. These things etched themselves into her, shaping the woman she would one day become.

Germany was beautiful.
But never quite warm.
Not like the messy, loud, love-filled warmth of Iraq.

Yet it gave her something even greater: a dream.

To become a lawyer — not just any lawyer, but a powerful voice in government.
To one day give something back to the land that gave her life and took away her innocence.
To fight for those who had no voice in Iraq.

“We can’t change the whole world, but we can change someone’s world.” – Adhraa

After almost a decade in Germany, another farewell loomed. Her family had made a bold decision: to return to Iraq — with no plan, no timeline, just a need to go back.

When her teacher found out, he gently asked Adhraa to share the news with the class.

She stood before the room, trembling, heart full, knowing she had to speak. The tears came easily. So did the hugs, the promises, the lingering glances that said, don’t forget me.

Her journey was far from over.

The roads ahead were uncertain, but each one carved her path with purpose.

To become her best self — and help others rise into theirs.

God, Jordan, and Becoming a Teacher

Time passed, and among Adhraa’s travels, Jordan would await her with many revelations — ones that made coincidences feel as if destiny had already written it.

After countless problems trying to enroll in school, she eventually joined one opened by a priest for Iraqi Christian refugees. After leaving the school, she entered a quiet period at home — where what would become the most valuable part of her life began to unfold: discovering God — and her faith grew stronger, coming from within herself.

Jordan took Adhraa on an existential journey, where she asked herself every day about the importance of education in a person. So, the moment she had the chance to become a teacher, she accepted without hesitation.

One day, everything she thought she knew about being a refugee changed. While visiting a teacher recovering from surgery, she sat and listened to the stories shared by other teachers who were with her. All of them told real stories from their experiences in Iraq.

That day, Adhraa felt her dreams and struggles were truly worth it. She realized that, along the way, life always gives us exactly what we need — when we need it.

Thank you, Adhraa.