Zeinab Khawaja on Finding the Courage to Reach Out for Support

Bounce McMaster

Follow Zeinab as she describes how she puts different parts of her identity together during her time as an undergraduate student at McMaster. Zeinab had a great time at Welcome Week and would make some close friends in her first year. Eventually in first year, she would open up to a few people about what had happened a few days before Welcome Week - her wedding for her arranged marriage. Zeinab’s story highlights how the act of sharing your story is healing. She reminds us that “even if you don’t feel like you deserve it, even if you’re not sure what will come of it, even if it might end up being bad and hurtful. The trying is what matters. Knowing that every time I tried to tell someone, I was telling myself, you deserve to be heard."

Zeinab has also shared a spoken word piece that she has written about the events discussed in this episode. This spoken word piece will also be available on the Bounce platforms for additional listening.

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