My father came to Australia by boat in 2001, just before the government stopped processing asylum seeker visas for refugees who had arrived by boat. Every time I think about that, it just amazes me because if we’d arrived even one month later, our lives would’ve been completely different. We really dodged a bullet.
I was 8 when we arrived in Adelaide, and it was an amazing feeling seeing my father again after so long. As soon as I saw him, I felt so happy. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew that things were going to change for the better, and that new things would arise.
I didn’t speak a word of English when I started school, which made me feel weak at first. But instead of getting upset, it inspired me to work harder, and I started studying English in all my free time, until I felt confident.
Eight years later, I was dux of my school, and I got awards for all my subjects, as well as two awards for Academic Excellence.
At the moment, I’m in my 3rd year of Law and Politics, and I’m working as a Law Clerk. I’ve also recently finished doing a training program to become a refugee rights advocate with the Asylum Seeker Resource Center. Next month, I’m going to start work as a paralegal at a leading law firm.
My long term dream is to work with the United Nations— I know it will be difficult to achieve, but miraculous things have had happened to me already. In my family, we say, ‘It’s all on you. You can do whatever you want if you want it’, and we’ve always proved that to be true. My oldest brother owns a supermarket, my next brother has an IT degree and has joined the army, my older sister finished her law degree last year, and my youngest brother just finished high school with a score of 98.
I’m proud of where I am right now. And grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been given, because if I wasn’t here in Australia, I wouldn’t be able to even dream about anything that I’m currently doing.
Gulima
Afghanistan
Arrived 2005
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Australia is blessed with new Australians like you and your family.
Congratulations you have worked very hard and deserve to do well. I’m sure you will reach your dream – you’ve come so far already! Your parents must be very proud of you x
Your story is an inspirational for other girls from refugee background that YES they can if they start even today.
Well done Gulima,Australians and your family are proud of you.
Your smile says it all….congratulations on all your successes. Having been on the journey you have means you are able to understand and support those who have come after you. I work with refugees and every now and then I see that spark that is needed to get them to where you are. Not everyone will be a lawyer or even get to uni but as long as they do the best they can and be the best they can, they are successful. Live your life by example so others can follow and never stop being Proud of how far you have come.
Congratulations on a huge effort to not only overcome adversity but excelling in your studies. Best wishes for your asylum seeking/ United Nations advocacy.
Well, time to get over it. Almost 90% of Australians just dont care about people in need anymore. Look at last election, if we cared the only party with an ounce of heart would have got more than f all % of the vote.
This is a great story about a wonderful family – and I can see you attached to the UN or an NGO in the next 5 years Gulima. Meanwhile, back in Afghanistan …… https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/
Very good. I suppose she feels we should have no immigration restrictions and just open up for everyone. That should go well!
Wow wow wow, amazing story. Thinking of all the other brilliant woman out there being suppressed. All those amazing minds who can’t shine. Proud to be an Australian and have freedom and opportunity. If only the world could live with the same. Your parents must be so proud!
Well done Gulima! You have shown no matter the circumstances you can change your path in life to one you want. Congratulations to you for being strong and following your dreams
Gulima, what a beautiful smile. So much for you and your family to be proud of. Wishing you success in your future ambitions.
I too like Mardi Walker, ponder about the many children out there who have such potential but no opportunity.
All these dreadful boat people, coming over here and proving our politicians to be liars by achieving things and giving back to rhe community, where’s the gratitude? /sarcasm
Gulima, I am humbled by your story and that of your family, and I’m honoured to call you a fellow Australian.
I love this. Look how a “boat person”, without the sense of entitlement from having been born here has succeeded. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I know our immigrant policy did something right in allowing Gulima’s family to stay. Welcome to Australia and congratulations on your brilliant achievements!
I work at a secondary school in Western Australia where we have an Intensive English Centre for refugees and other children who come to Australia with little or no english. When they enter mainstream schooling they often become dux of their year group. Congratulations.
Gulima, your story gave me chills of happiness and excitement. Congrats on all that you have achieved and the very best of luck for all that you WILL accomplish.
Welcome. I am always happy to see new Australians. We never forget where we come from but our allegiance is to this beautiful brown land and the freedoms and opportunities it gives us all.
I’m very happy you arrived when you did and ‘dodged a bullet’. What advice would you have for those less fortunate than you who arrived later and don’t have the same opportunities or rights?
This is something of our glory days as a nation … a reminder of some of the best Australia has to offer … not the long list of other evil things that we are doing … let’s aspire and strive for this greater good.
Good to see a migrant family who have integrated, worked hard and are now enjoying the benefits, congratulations and welcome.
Congratulations through the Smith Family Learn for Life program I sponsored an Afghanistan refugee who always wanted to be a nurse and she graduated as a nurse. I was so proud of her. ⛄❄️
What a wonderful story and an impressive achievement. Congratulations Gulima. I hope there are more good things ahead for you and your family.
So so good. Keep on keeping on. Great to hear such stories of success in our immigrants. Happy you got in before they turned life into hell for similar would be asylum seekers!
Wow – Gulima, your story demonstrates the moral bankruptcy of Federal Government policies on refugees and persons fleeing from desperate situations.
I hope you achieve your long term goals. I know you will make a great contribution through your paralegal work.
Beautiful story Gulima. Take pride in all your achievements. Australia is the better for having you and your amazing family.
There’s this myth that all Muslims cant integrate because they are Muslims . I was born and raised in Australia , I am only Australian , Im also a law student , I’ve always been a part of Australian society , I love Australia and would always defend it , this is also my county and I am forever grateful for the opportunities this country gave me. personally feel some people make it harder for others to integrate by always putting labels such as “Mexican American , Asian Australian , Arab Australian , African American ” nobody says European American or German/Irish Australian so I don’t think we should label people by their heritage , this never ever made sense to me at all. I feel this forms more diversity , why can’t we all just be Australians regardless of our heritage and ethnic background ? You can speak about your origin , nothing wrong with that , but why label your self based on your “heritage “another synonym for heritage is history ! I think saying I’m an “American or African descent ” is different then labelling people by “African American ” , I think saying Arab Australian or Asian Australian or Chinese Australian or Filipino Australian , these are all very different than saying ” I’m an Australian of Arab decent or Turkish decent or Bosnian decent or Pakistani decent or African origin or Mexican heritage ” not everyone wants to be labeled by a country or region they don’t know much ,nor do they connect to , nor have they been a part of its society nor do they hold that country values so isn’t logical to me just because somebody’s great grandparents lived somewhere or were sort of a county or region , I think we shouldn’t label people by their heritage especially if they were born and raised in Australia/America/Britain or whatever ! I think it’s extremely annoying being labelled with a country/nation or even religion you currently don’t have any association with nor agree with its way of life , in some cases , some don’t even know much about the country or region and simply don’t care ! Saying I’m an Australian of German heritage means in the past my roots due to my ancestors descended from German but currently I’m an Australian , it should be the same for everyone or other groups will feel they are less Australian and even less entitled to integrate therefore they should remain completely in the bubble that only involves their culture from their ethnic background because they and others believe they are ‘foreign ‘and should stay that way ,unless you are white or European you are not qualified enough to be an Australian or an American or British or whatever !