Author: WhispersofAqsa

My beloved mom’s name is Hamida Rahmani, and this week, I want to tell you all about her. My mom is the best mom I could ever ask for. She took care of us, loved us, and protected us with a strength that sometimes felt like a miracle. I know everyone says that about their moms, but when I say it, I mean it from the deepest part of my heart. When we had to leave Afghanistan in June 2021, my mom packed 13 suitcases full of everything we would need to start our new life in America. I could…

Dear Madam Vice President Kamala Harris, My name is Aqsa, and I’m an 11-year-old blogger and writer from Afghanistan. I live in Arlington, Virginia. Today, I’m writing to you with all the hope and courage I can muster because I need you to know just how much you mean to me—and to so many others like me. Ms. Harris, you are a light in the darkness for girls like me who dare to dream of a better future. I believe in you with all my heart. I cannot follow all of America’s election news because I am in school. But…

I love writing because it lets me share my thoughts and experiences with people worldwide. Writing makes me feel good knowing that others might understand what it’s like to endure tough times. Writing is essential to me because it helps me connect with people who might be going through similar challenges. For example, I wrote a few notes about my journey from Afghanistan to the US, and I saw they touched many people and sent me well wishes. This is a significant achievement. My family and I could not imagine the love we received from people just because I wrote…

I have something really important and close to my heart that I want to share with you. My sister, Taiba, is doing something amazing with her nonprofit, Stitching the Future. It’s all about helping girls in Afghanistan who are struggling because they can’t go to school. I want to tell you what’s happening and why it means so much to me and to my sister. Taiba’s idea is so special. She’s asking the brave women and girls in Afghanistan to make beautiful bracelets and other handmade crafts. These aren’t just any crafts; they’re made with love and hope by people who…

Hi all, I want to tell you all about myself since some of you have asked. I’m 11 years old, and I’ve been writing for about two months now. I want to thank Mr. Selber for two things, providing us the US visas to travel to the US and now sponsoring my writings at Grumpy Combat Veteran + Friends. This is a great opportunity for me! Without any further due, here is my story: I was born on April 21, 2013, in Kabul, Afghanistan. I have brown eyes and long brown hair. I have five siblings, and when I was…

A couple of days ago, we went to New York. We went by car, so the ride was about 4 or 5 hours long. Since we could get hungry, my Mom packed some fruit for us to eat, and we also had some snacks so we didn’t have to stop for food or drinks. He talks to us, sometimes, about serious stuff. And he makes us laugh. When we arrived, we went to my uncle’s house, where my cousins showed us the new PlayStation (PS) PS5 they got! Even after seeing the PS5, which is my favorite and I am…

I have always dreamed of becoming the first female Afghan Astronaut because I find it very interesting to travel from Earth all the way to the moon or maybe even to another planet! I am always filled with wonder about so many things: What is the moon like? Is it just a giant rock floating in space? Can I draw on a piece of paper on the moon? I think about all sorts of crazy stuff like that. I want to be an astronaut because it sounds much more interesting and fun than any other job I can imagine! I…

Eid Mubarak Eid al-Adha in America is both fun and strange for me. Here, we go to the mosque, and men and women pray together. In Afghanistan, women aren’t allowed to go to the mosque, so it’s special to pray with my family here. I got to stand next to my mom and watch her pray, which I couldn’t do in Kabul. Adding to this strangeness, we don’t have our big family in the US. Mr. Will is helping some of our family members get out of Afghanistan; when they come, it might not feel strange anymore. But right now,…

I’m honored to publish our first featured writer on GCV+F, Aqsa Rahamni. Aqsa Rahmani came to the United States from Afghanistan in 2021, a few months before the fall of Kabul. Her father, a dear friend, has been sharing her thoughts with the world for a few months. Now, however, she’s part of the GCV+F family. I was first introduced to Aqsa’s writing prowess during my retirement ceremony. Below is a copy of a letter she wrote me for the occasion. Her father read it out loud during the event, causing a flood of emotions throughout the auditorium. Without further…

Hello everyone! I haven’t written in a while because I was super busy preparing for these big tests at school called Standard of Language (SOL). I wanted to do really well on them, so I didn’t have time to write. I’ve missed sharing stories with you all, but I’m back now with a fresh story to tell about why it’s hard for refugees like me to learn English when we arrive in the US. Here in America, I have to remember how to speak two languages every single day! I need English for school, which is important for all my…