An Amazing Scientist
Thoughts from Aqsa Rahmani
Howdy,
I’m honored to publish our first featured writer on GCV+F, Aqsa Rahamni.
Aqsa Rahmani came to the United States from Afghanistan in 2021, a few months before the fall of Kabul. Her father, a dear friend, has been sharing her thoughts with the world for a few months. Now, however, she’s part of the GCV+F family.
I was first introduced to Aqsa's writing prowess during my retirement ceremony. Below is a copy of a letter she wrote me for the occasion. Her father read it out loud during the event, causing a flood of emotions throughout the auditorium.
Without further ado
Yesterday was the Hazara Cultural Day, and the whole Hazara community celebrated it in a big park in Chantilly, Virginia. There were so many people, and everyone was happy and proud of our culture. There was dancing, and men and women were together. There were colorful clothes, delicious food, and beautiful music everywhere. It was such an exciting day! Unlike conservative Taliban supporters in Afghanistan, where there is no value for women and no joy for men,
Hazara people celebrate their cultural day every year, no matter where they are. The best part of the day was meeting the coolest scientist ever, Dr. Shakardokht Jafari! She was there, and I really want to tell you all about her because her story is so amazing and inspiring!
Dr. Jafari was born in 1977 in Daikundi province of Afghanistan. When she was just six years old, her family had to leave their home because of a terrible war. They traveled for six long months to get to Iran as refugees. Can you imagine how scary and hard that must have been?
When Dr. Jafari turned fourteen, something even scarier happened. Her dad wanted her to marry her cousin! But Dr. Jafari had big dreams and didn’t want to get married so young. She bravely convinced her parents and cousin to cancel the marriage so she could keep studying.
Isn’t that amazing?
She studied hard and graduated with a degree in radiation technologies in 2000 from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Then, she returned to Afghanistan in 2004, teaching at Kabul Medical University while getting a master’s degree in radiation physics. She was working and studying at the same time – wow!
In 2010, she moved to the UK to keep following her dreams. By 2015, she became the first Afghan woman to earn a PhD in Medical Physics. That means she studied hard and did something no Afghan woman had done before! She even got an award from the Schlumberger Foundation to help with her studies.
Dr. Jafari didn’t stop there. She invented tiny glass beads that measure radiation in a patient’s body. These beads are super important because they help treat cancer better and don’t cost much. She was inspired to make these beads because her father died from cancer, and she wanted to help others who might be sick like him. She is the best human being you could ever meet!
In 2016, she won a big award for women entrepreneurs and started her own company, TRUE NVivo. Her invention was patented in 2019, so it’s officially recognized as her unique idea. She even participated in the UK Sirius program for graduate entrepreneurs and was featured in the SPIE Women in Optics planner in 2018.
Dr. Jafari’s story is touching because she went through so much but never gave up on her dreams. She is a hero to me, and I’m so proud to share the same Hazara heritage with her. Her journey from a little village in Afghanistan to becoming a famous scientist is a true inspiration.
I will be the first Afghan girl to go to the moon as an astronaut so that I will be the second Shakardokht from the Hazara community!
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How is it that I find the most inspiring stories on Grumpy Combat Veteran (the +Friends factor?)? First came the letter, after which I needed to reflect before reading further. Then, another inspiring and uplifting story.
Foreign aid, broadly speaking, for humanitarian causes, is an issue that had me believing myself (for decades, really) to be a liberal. The other two are my solid pro-choice stance which dates to my teens and the simple fact that since the late 90s I've known that climate change would be the issue it is today.
I want to see this bubble get popped in a dramatic fashion before the election. People do not understand the political spectrum. Conservative does not mean authoritarian, nor does it make one a bigot. It does not mean not supporting the rights of women. It doesn't mean misrepresenting the science community. Conservatives should support the Bill of Rights, for example.
I hope that people see that Republicans are the ones who have corrupted conservatism itself. Conservative does not make one an anti-Federalist. It doesn't make a guy like me be a bigot or anti-government militia member. It doesn't make me feel like I'm in a position to dictate healthcare decisions for women, or force LGBT people back into the closet. That would be absurd on my part, when I live in a country where I have the freedom to not engage, to not read or watch these things if I so choose. I mind my own business, which is something I thought was conservative.
Dear Aqsa,
Your beautifully written piece about Hazara Cultural Day and the remarkable Dr. Shakardokht Jafari is truly inspiring. Your words vividly capture the joy and pride of your community and celebrate the incredible achievements of a fellow Hazara woman. Your admiration for Dr. Jafari’s perseverance and success is heartwarming and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of dreams and determination.
Your aspirations to become an astronaut are equally inspiring. Your courage, vision, and pride in your heritage shine through in your writing. Keep dreaming big and sharing your voice with the world you are already making a difference.