Born in Somalia, Fadumo Mohamed moved to Australia three years ago speaking no English.
Today Mohamed is not only fluent in the language, but dreams of becoming a writer and going to a yearlong writing school in America.
“Every time I think of going to the writing school in America my heart beats a little faster,” 16-year-old Mohamed told North Media.
A regular face at The Huddle over the past year, Mohamed has been using the sessions to work on her application to the school.
“My biggest dream is to write. Poetry, fiction, horror stories … all kinds of things.”
Mohamed’s stories are filled with wild characters and sudden plot twists, and when speaking about her stories, her face lights up.
Beyond wild creativity and imagination, her stories all carry a theme that she is passionate about.
“I like writing about female empowerment,” she said.
“I don’t like how some people have views that females are weak … I just don’t like it. I’ve always been a person who goes against that stereotype. There are things we can’t do, but we can always try just like the boys.”
Mohamed is just one example of how strong, creative and resilient young women can be. Through moving from Somalia to Ethiopia and then Australia, where she didn’t speak or understand the local language, her optimism hasn’t faltered.
“Most of my stories I put a little piece of myself in there, my understandings and history and journeys.
“If someone reads my stories, I want them to understand that girls can do anything, and that life is unknown- anything can happen … but you can do it,” Mohamed explained.
This can-do attitude is clear when Mohamed talks about potentially making the big move, 15,000 kilometres away to America.
“I’m very used to moving around, I love change,” Mohamed said.
“I’m always itching for new things, and more adventures and experiences. I want to see more and learn more and gain more knowledge … that’s part of why the writing school in America is so exciting to me.”
Whether the ability to dream up characters for a story, or dream up career and personal goals, Mohamed is a testament to the strength, creativity, and optimism of our young people, and a reminder that no dream is too big.
