Amer Saleh.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
Born to a Syrian mother and Palestine father, Amer Saleh is all too familiar with the conflict, and trauma that comes from severe political differences.
Days from graduating with a Master of Arts in professional and publishing writing, the 24-year-old reflects on her parents’ brave decision to flee Syria for London when she was just two, and her personal journey as the child of immigrant parents.
“My parents really are my refuge,” she said.
“Their resilience, strength and faith have made me who I am today, and their love and unwavering support gave me the courage to leave the UK four years ago and chase my dream of becoming a writer.”
Watching the carnage unfold in Gaza and Israel, Amer is reminded why her desire to fight for human rights and freedom of speech is so important.
“Giving the world’s most vulnerable a voice and writing about things that matter the most to me, is what I want to do when I leave Curtin,’’ she said.
“I would love to make a difference and work for an organisation that advocates for something bigger than me.”
Growing up, Amer said she would often have conversations with her dad about Palestine’s past and his response was always the same.
“I’d call dad crying saying and he’d say it’s ok, the Palestinians are tough. They will get through this. They have faith,’’ she said.
“I think when you’ve gone through so much as my dad has, you build a thick skin to it. He’s made room in his heart for it.”
Leaving behind their family, friends and established careers, Amer credits her parent’s bravery for wanting a better life for her and her younger brother.
Amer with her parents and younger brother in the UK.
“My parents are smart. Mum has a degree in computer science and dad a degree in business, which must have made it even harder to pack up and leave,” she said.
“When they relocated to the UK, they left everything behind and had to start all over again.
“My father left behind a good job where he was a respected boss and started working two jobs to provide for us.
“He would work at a laundromat during the day and then would drive to his evening job where he was a waiter. He was up early hours in the morning and came back in the early hours of the following day.
“He had Sundays off though and would take my brother and I into town, which I loved. It was my favourite day of the week.”
Amer said it was her father’s incredible work ethic that she most admired.
“He never had a sick day, he never once slept in and he taught me it’s OK to start from scratch,’’ she said.
“Spending the next couple years in London proving to everyone who he was and reminding himself of who he used to be, I’m sure wasn’t easy.
“But despite this my father never let me feel like there wasn’t anything I couldn’t have, and he still spoiled me. He made it look so easy.”
Amer said her mum on the other hand was the brains of the home.
Amer with her mother.
“Mum knew the answer to everything. While that quickly became annoying, she never got tired of saying ‘I told you so’,’’ she laughed.
“My mum is the epitome of wisdom. It was like she had lived many lives before. I suppose she had.
“There was never a topic I couldn’t go to her for. Maths, fashion, friends. No one knew how to solve algebra better than she did. She also taught me how to be self-sufficient, self-soothing and selfish.”
A few years ago, Amer said she came very close to losing her mum after open heart surgery complications.
“My mother is the strongest person I know. I’m not sure angels are meant to roam through the trenches down here with the rest of us. But it’s a miracle to know her, and a privilege to have her as my mum,’’ she said.
“Despite everything she’s been through, losing her home, her father, surviving cervical cancer and enduring two open-heart surgeries, she continues to stand up for herself and always reminds me I am deserving of a home, a country and a future.”
Amer said it was her family’s roots, bloodline and battle scars that has moulded her into the person she is today.
“I’m proud to be the daughter of immigrants,’’ she said.
“In the midst of burning flames so to speak, my parents walked out unscathed, undefeated and most importantly, undivided.”
Amer said stepping out of her comfort zone and moving to Australia on her own, gave her a glimpse of what it must have felt like for her parents to move to a new country and start a new life.
“While the first few months was a struggle, looking back, the experience definitely gave me confidence and made me believe I could do and be anything,’’ she said.
“When I leave Curtin and find my place in the world, I can only hope I will do it with the same amount of perseverance and integrity as my parents.”
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
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