Occupation: Student

Country of Birth: Malaysia

Current: Chicago, IL

“Even when we came to the US with identification and all the documents, they still labeled us as immigrants.”

Hamidah was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her family is very diverse, made up of Burmese, Rohingya, and Malaysian backgrounds. On her mom’s side, her grandparents had a love marriage. On her dad’s side, her grandparents had an arranged marriage, which also led to her parents being arranged.

In Malaysia, her family had a farm in their backyard. Everything was fresh—as soon as they caught the fish, they cooked it; as soon as they grew the berry or the fruit, they ate it, even off the tree branch. Hamidah stayed in Malaysia for fifteen years. Her dad bought a house and a car. But later, financial problems, poor education opportunities, and growing government and military control made Malaysia unsafe. Her family decided to move to the US for a better education, a better life, and a better income.

Coming to the US was not easy. Adjusting to the cold weather, strange foods, and people’s looks made her family feel like they didn’t belong. Finding halal food was difficult as a Muslim.

Thankfully, a relative who lived in Chicago helped them settle. He showed them how everything worked, such as taxes, food, people, and even the language, and introduced them to a community center where they received help and support.

At first, Hamidah struggled with loneliness in preschool and elementary school, often feeling like an outsider. Later on, in middle school and high school, she found friends and built a strong sense of community.

In February 2025, Hamidah became a naturalized citizen. She dreams of earning her master’s degree, getting a good job, and giving back to her community while honoring her culture and faith.