07/12/2026
Today marks 35 years since my family left Damascus, Syria, and arrived in Chicago in search of a new beginning.
I was 13 years old, scared, overwhelmed, and trying to navigate a new country, language, and culture. Watching my parents rebuild their lives from the ground up taught me that success isn’t about where you start, it’s about your willingness to keep moving forward.
Years later, I found myself doing the same. I left Chicago for San Diego, put my science career on hold to raise my children, and eventually discovered my passion for photography. What started as a hobby became a career that allowed me to build a successful studio, work with incredible clients, and see my work featured in national publications.
In 2020, the pandemic closed my studio, and our family moved back to Chicago after 16 years in California. Once again, I found myself starting over. I took a leap of faith, opened a new studio in Oak Brook 5 years ago today and trusted the process.
Today, I stand here as a proud immigrant, business owner of 19 years, wife, mother, daughter, and friend.
My journey is proof that the American dream is still alive. Not because success is handed to you, but because with hard work, faith, determination, and the courage to begin again, incredible things can happen.
Never be afraid to start over. Sometimes that’s exactly where the magic begins.
🇸🇾❤️🇺🇸
Background music Al Shami 🎶 my favorite singer
