I was always interested in art. But in Syria, being an artist was not considered a serious profession, and I was told that I should try to be something like a doctor instead. When my father and his family saw me drawing, he would take away my pencil and paper. I tried to believe in myself, but I always felt down, and my mental health suffered.
I also had to deal with the war. The worst day was when fighting started on the streets outside my primary school. At that time, I was 8. The principal told . . .