My name is Samira Kohdamani. I was born in Afghanistan, in a country where war and insecurity were part of daily life. My childhood was filled with both challenges and hopes. Through all of it, I always carried a bright dream in my heart: to one day study, build a better future, and become an independent and strong woman.
After the fall of my country, my life took a new path. Together with my family, I migrated to Albania, where we lived for almost two years. Starting over in an unfamiliar country was not easy, but it made me stronger. In 2023, we came to Canada—a land that represents hope and a new future for me.
Today, I live in Toronto and have returned to school. I am working to earn the credits I need in order to enter university. My biggest goal is to become a dentist, because I believe that a beautiful smile can bring hope back into people’s lives.
For me, migration was not an ending; it was the beginning of a new journey into the unknown. I learned that even in the hardest days, it is possible to keep hope alive.
This is who I am:
I am that Afghan girl who grew up in the midst of war and displacement but never let go of her dreams. Now, in a new land, I am walking forward with courage and hope, building the future I once only imagined as a child.
~
Photo credit: Image provided by the storyteller.
