Below is a transcript of an inspirational audio recording by Samah Nazmi Al-jaraba’a that she made last year. I previously published her essay Shadows Over Sunrises: A Young Woman’s Fight for Tomorrow in Gaza (17.7.25) in this space.

Samah’s sentiments remind me of young Vietnamese, including her thirst for learning and self-improvement, optimism, hopes, dreams, and ambitions. The obvious difference is that she — along with everyone else in Gaza — is living through a genocide, which she describes with heartbreaking understatement as “the tough situation we’re currently facing,” while Vietnam enjoys peace and relative prosperity.

To create the AI-generated photo above, I asked ChatGPT “to create an image of a 19-year-old woman in Gaza who always try to remain positive and hopeful in the tough situation she and others there are currently facing.” While I initially liked another version more, I changed my mind after looking at this image again. (The woman who is the subject of this post agrees.) It really captures a young woman trying to “remain positive and hopeful in the tough situation she and others there are currently facing.” Grace and determination amid violence and desperation.

Please consider making a donation to Samah’s GoFundMe campaign to support her family.

Peace, MAA

Hi, my name is Samah Nazmi Jaraba. My student number is ______. I am 19 years old and I live in Gaza.

Life here has never been easy. Every day comes with its own set of challenges. Especially with the tough situation we’re currently facing.

However, I always try to remain positive and hopeful. I believe that no matter how hard life gets, we should never give up on our dreams and goals. All of these things have taught me to be strong and determined.

Currently, I am a student at Quds Open University studying translation. I have always been passionate about learning new things and improving myself. I believe that education is the key to building a better future.

Not just for me, but for my community as well. My studies have helped me to become more responsible and motivated. In my free time, I have many interesting hobbies that I enjoy.

I love reading different kinds of books, especially novels and stories that allow me to travel to different worlds through imagination. I also actually enjoy drawing and working on creative projects. I find it exciting to create comics that mix reality with humor.

It is a special way for me to express feelings, thoughts, and experiences. One of my biggest passions is technology and design. I love exploring new programs and tools, especially those related to graphic design and digital art.

I always try to learn new skills like photo editing, video production, and animation. I find it amazing how technology can be used creatively to deliver powerful ideas. Besides that, spending time with my family and friends is very important to me.

They are my biggest source of support and happiness. I also enjoy listening to music, especially songs that help me to relax and stay positive. As for my future plans, I have a big dream that I am working hard to achieve.

I hope to continue my education abroad in a foreign country where I can experience different cultures, meet new people, and gain more advanced knowledge in my field. One of my main goals is to improve my English language skill and become fully fluent both in speaking and writing. I believe that mastering English will open many doors for me to be honest.

Whether in education, work, communication with other people from around the world, studying abroad will not only help me academically but will also help me grow as a person. I want to become more independent, more confident, and more aware of the world. In the future, I dream of starting my own creative business.

Maybe a design studio or a digital media company where I can use my skills to inspire others and make a positive difference in society. In conclusion, I believe that with hard work and faith, nothing is impossible. I am excited for the journey ahead and I am fully ready to face whatever challenges come my way.

Thank you for listening to me. I also wish all my classmates the best of luck in their journey. May we all achieve our dreams and make our families proud.

Goodbye.

(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai.)

MAA: I created four versions of a song entitled A Message from a Young Palestinian Woman in Gaza inspired by Sameh’s message.