When Waed first became a Daughters for Life Scholar, she was a passionate young woman who started giving back to her community at a young age. As a young girl, Waed dedicated her time after school to work in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. She taught English and poetry to young girls, providing an outlet to express their thoughts and emotions. This experience assisted Waed in discovering her passion and purpose. A pen became her source of joy and catharsis. Now, Waed is our graduate scholar currently finishing her Master’s in English at Brock University. After graduating from Manhattanville College with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Creative writing, Waed decided to continue pursuing education. From the start, Waed had a clear target in mind; she wanted to be a university professor to help spread the knowledge she was given. Now Waed is on the path to achieve her dream. Not only will she be receiving her Master’s this August, but she has already been accepted by Guelph University to pursue a Ph.D. in English.

Waed’s fascination with education started from an early age as her parents ensured she understood the importance of education for a Palestinian refugee. She has excelled at all levels of her educational path and hopes to do the same in her Ph.D. studies. This fascination is rooted in her interest in the potential of writing and books in propagating the voices of the underrepresented. “As a child, I was fascinated by libraries, and reading was my main hobby. It intrigued me to see thoughts and opinions being translated into a book. Being a young Palestinian girl living in the Middle East and engaged in social work, I saw so much potential in my community that I wanted to project to others. I think writing is a great medium for women from the Middle East to earn a voice in the world,” says Waed.

In Canada, Waed took her first steps towards a career in education. During her Master’s, Waed worked as a teaching assistant. She taught two undergraduate introductory English seminars and assisted in grading and tests. She believes this experience is essential for her future as a professor. Waed’s research was accepted for presentation at two conferences, The Congress at Western University and The FIILM Congress in Vienna. Both conferences were rescheduled due to the Pandemic.

Currently, Waed is working on completing her master’s thesis focused on analyzing and establishing the value of Refugee Poetics as a genre of literature. Additionally, she is working as a research assistant with two of her university professors. She is helping one professor with his research and assisting another professor in creating material for her new course. Waed is particularly excited about creating a cultural sensitivity guide to ensure that TA’s understand the best ways to teach and support international students.

Soon, Waed will be a Daughters for Life alumni, but her commitment to the foundation will not falter. Waed’s belief in Daughters for Life’s message has strengthened her interest in education as the tool in bringing about prosperity and development. Waed acknowledges, “the Daughters for Life scholarship is more than just an open door towards an opportunity for me. Yes, the scholarship allows me to pursue the goal of becoming an active, well educated, and goal-oriented women in my community. It also means a lot to me because of the message it carries. Having seen the severity of the situation the young men and women face in the Middle East, I understand and respect the foundation for alleviating some of this suffering.” In September, Waed will start her new journey to acquire a Ph.D. and return to her teaching positions at a new university. We couldn’t be prouder, and we wish her all the luck.