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I’ve stumbled, I’ve fallen, and I’ve been knocked down more times than I can count but if there’s one thing life couldn’t take from me, it’s my smile and the hope that tomorrow will be better.

Growing up in Afghanistan: A girl with big dreams

From the moment I could dream, I dreamed big. In Afghanistan, education wasn’t just a pursuit for me, it was a passion. Books became my escape, my hope, and my future. Alongside my studies, I found strength in sports, pushing myself beyond limits, learning discipline and embracing the thrill of competition. I never imagined that one day, I’d have to fight for more than just victory on the field, I’d have to fight for a life I never asked to leave behind.

The day everything changed

When the Taliban took over, my world shattered. My family, my heart, was suddenly scattered across four different countries. Canada. Afghanistan. Pakistan. Australia. We weren’t just miles apart; we were torn apart. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to my father.

For a month, there was only silence. No voice, no reassurance, just the unbearable weight of uncertainty. And when we finally spoke, my heart broke. My father, once so strong and full of life, now carried the grief of separation on his face. His hair, his beard both had turned gray. I had left a piece of my soul behind, and with it, the laughter of my family.

Then came a call that still haunted me. It was my brother, his voice was heavy, told me that our mother was crying. She was giving away my academic equipment, the tools I had saved for, sacrificed for. When he asked why, she whispered through tears, “Marhaba spent all her pocket money on these things, and now I have to give them away.”

It was more than just books and supplies. It was my dream being packed away, my past being erased, piece by piece.

Nine months in North Macedonia: Learning strength the hard way

Before reaching Canada, I spent nine months in North Macedonia, a place that became both a test and a lesson. Every day was filled with uncertainty, yet I refused to let my circumstances define me. I worked with the Red Cross, helping those who, like me, had been uprooted, forced to start over with nothing but memories and hope.

I saw pain in so many eyes. I heard stories of loss, of courage, of survival. And through their struggles, I found resilience, not just in them, but within myself.

Arriving in Canada: A new beginning, a heavy heart

Canada was supposed to be a fresh start, a place of safety. But new beginnings don’t erase old wounds. I was safe, but I wasn’t whole.

I missed my family with an ache word cannot describe. The warmth of home was replaced by a country that felt foreign, a language I struggled to master, and an unfamiliar world that demanded I adapt. But I refused to let struggle be my story’s ending.

I studied English while working to support myself and my family, juggling responsibilities that sometimes felt overwhelming. There were nights I cried in exhaustion, mornings where doubt whispered that I wasn’t strong enough. But every time I thought of my parents, of their sacrifices, of my mother’s tears as she gave away the books I once treasured, I found the strength to keep going.

It has now been four years since I last saw any of my family members. No social media post, no video call, nothing can replace the feeling of being home. I long for the day I can visit them again, step through the door, and hold each one of them in my arms. Until then, I carry their love with me, in every challenge I face and every dream I chase.

A pain that knows no distance

Even though I was far away, the day I heard that the Taliban had closed school doors to girls, my heart broke all over again. I was on the bus, heading to work, when the news reached me. I couldn’t hold back my tears—for my friends, my relatives, and every Afghan girl who once dreamed of studying and building their future. In that moment, I felt helpless. I was safe, yet they were trapped in a reality they never chose. The injustice of it all weighed on me, a reminder that no matter where I was, part of me would always be with them.

Turning pain into purpose

Despite everything, I found purpose in BCIT’s Architectural and Building Technology program. Here, I was able to blend my love for construction management with my passion for design and building.

Then came a moment that changed everything, I received a scholarship and support that reminded me I wasn’t alone on this journey. I am a recipient of the Beedie Luminaries scholarship and the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) bursary, and both have played an important role in supporting my studies and career journey.

In that moment, every sacrifice, every sleepless night, every tear became worth it. It was more than just financial aid. It was proof that my dreams were still alive. That no matter how far I had been pushed, I had never truly lost myself.

Looking to the future

I dream of completing my degree in Construction Management and using my skills to create spaces that tell stories, that provide safety, that bring comfort to those who need it most. I want to design not just buildings, but hope.

And beyond that, I want to inspire. To show young women especially those who come from places where dreams are often silenced, that they can rise, that they can build, that they can become whatever they dare to imagine.

A message of resilience and kindness

If you are struggling, if the weight of the world feels unbearable, please hold on. Even in moments of separation, loss, and uncertainty, hope is never truly lost. With resilience and faith, even the hardest trials can be turned into purpose.

And to everyone reading this! Please, be kind. The person next to you, the one with a bright smile, may be carrying a pain you cannot see. A small act of kindness, a gentle word, a moment of understanding can change someone’s world. Together, we can make this earth a better place to live.

(Written by: BCIT Architectural and Building Technology student Marhaba Moslih. Marhaba is a recipient of the Beedie Luminaries scholarship and the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) bursary.)