Creativity

Week One:

 Creativity is when you bring your thoughts and imagination into a visual form. This can be done through speech, art, writing, videos, math, and almost anything because everything requires creativity. Once the mind is thinking "how to....." the process of creativity has already begun. For example, when I first wake up my immediate thought is how do I get more sleep and turn off my alarm without impacting the rest of my day. At this point in my life, I feel as if I know myself. After I hit the snooze button, I know my bed officially has my company. Due to my weakness, I become creative, my dear sister wakes up automatically to the sound of a house alarm fire with a speaker and my volume at full blast I have created myself a human alarm. If I could describe creativity in one word that would be problem solving. 

Week Two:

Hello guys as you guys know my name is Amina Haji. Haji was the name of my grandpa and because of that the name Haji well always honored, but the name Amina serves a greater purpose it was the name of the last Prophet peace be upon him. The Prophet Muhammad’s peace be upon mother was named Amina. Islam is my religion obviously; I was born a Muslim Women raised as a Muslim women and will continue being a Muslim women. Speaking of being born, I was born in Kenya, Nairobi and I speak multiple languages. Mai, mai, French ,English, and Arabic but only the quran part. My dad’s name is Mohamud he born Somali and speaks somalia and Mai Mai. He’s one of the people I look up to when I think about family and working hard in life. My dad is very strict about education, both public school and religious school. Being knowledgeable is very important to my dad because he wants his kids to be successful that what motivates me in going to college. 

Week Three:

I selected my fall semester classes by what best fits into my schedule. I have a lot on my plate and to be successful in college for me means finding a balance. I took this class because this class best fits with my schedule I work in the afternoon and all my siblings start school by 7:30am. This is how my schedule usually goes. I wake up for Farji a morning prayer Muslims usually do, wake up everyone in the house everyone is usually up by the third attempt, dropping them off, head to campus, finish all of my in person classes then go to work right after. Yes, from the outside point of view this seems stressful but I have a lot of break time in between. For example, this class is my earliest class starts at 8:30am next one starts at 11:00 am this gives me time for breakfast and other matters. There has been many time where I would say I will use the time for studying but to be honest the studying time only happened five times out of the semester. The rest of that time was dedicated to sleep I would not regret it because eye bags at the age of twenty just does not seem right. 

Week Four:

When it comes to my family I find myself very creative because they are the best at planning last minute, unexpected problems, and now giving my role as "head of the household" I now manage everything. Yes, I mean everything! From the little things like a wardrobe malfunction to the bigger things like a 3am visit to the hospital. Yes, this is all based on a true story. My brother was having nasal congestion, cough, fever, and everything that points to a fever most major problem COVID. Once, my brother said he couldn't breathe that's all my mom needed. Woke me up, said these EXACT words "AMINA, YOUR BROTHER IS DYING". At this moment, most of my laundry is in the machine. I am dreaming about being in Dubai I have no modest clothes to leave my house, I can't find my glasses,  and when I tried to put in my contacts one lense fell in the sink. A shirt was now my hijab we are reaching 3:15am my brother is dying I am thinking in my head and I have one contact lense in. I will wink my way to the hospital and tell them exactly what my mother said "He is dying and can't breathe". After three hours, my brother had the flu. 

Week Five: I’m short, tall enough to get on  the rides at the amusement park but still short 

My Dark big brown eyes are beautiful but so much emotion held inside. 

I love  this beautiful and bold coal Afro hair. I’m a first generation student, I learn from others and teach others.I am the dream daughter of every parent 

who takes on responsibilities beyond her abilities 

But is jagging a double life .

 I’m a member of community, where the  patterns and colors of our clothing is reflection of generations before us. 

I’m generous can’t make it rain with money but shower my love with those around me 

I am a African American woman who’s roost will never die. 

 

Week Seven:

In many ways, my family approaches dispute, no matter what the problem is, it will always turn to our religion, which means putting things in Allah's hands.By praying, you do this, helping you to find calmness inside yourself.And our religion tells us that the most important thing in the body of a human is the tongue, since you don't have control of what comes out of your mouth many times when you're angry or frustrated, and 10 out of 10 annoys the other person.It's not always easy to learn to control your tongue, but it's something we are all trying to get better at.The second thing that my family is doing to deal with tension is talking about what's going on and not suppressing our feelings.Holding on to grudges will result in relationship losses.The last thing is contact. We're talking about it all.The meaning of forgiveness, since forgiveness is not for the other person, but for your own peace.Overall, confrontation is not easy to deal with, but nothing works out.

Week Eight:

Here is a confession I have love/hate relationship with social media. In  todays world social media is  where everyone and everything is. Now don’t get more it is a great plate form,  that is where all the money making is.  I enjoy the the funny videos, islamic lectures, fashion, and celebrity gossip but I am not super active when I comes to own life. You know what say whatever you post on the internet it does go away if you delete a thousand times. The challage part for me is I am going the field of business which requires a lot of network , promoting and  being known. I have seen many people bussnies success and  a lot of it pvlsform they have on social media. These past few months I have been try to put myself out there. When You want something done you have to start with yourself, so I have been doing small post here and there.

Week Nine: 

September is named after the Latin word septem, which means "seven." September brings the summer to a conclusion and welcomes in the new season of autumn. September used to be my sister’s  favorite month, not just because of the comfortable nights and limited fall drinks, but also because it was her  birthday month. It was the one time of year where she  could devote an entire month to herself September of 2018 was the hardest month of my life.My wonderful father, who had been battling hypertension for three years, passed away. Despite the fact that I wasn’t present at every doctor's appointment, procedure, and overnight stay,   His death still caught me off guard. I went through several emotional phases, the first few months of which were marked by numbness, fear, and sorrow. I began to get nightmares and intrusive memories over time.

Week Ten:

 Being a person of color is beautiful inside and out but it is also scary. I remember watching the new with my father and there was story being told that night about a black who killed by the police because he was wearing a hoodie they couldn't see his face. A few months later another black killed by police.  I would follow the stories and something I was having a hard time understanding how does a police officer who has many equipments  on duty that contains a taser, pepper spray, and a stick but somehow a gun is the first thing they grab. Most of these men were in unarmed situations. I get scared because I have little brothers who will grow up someday and walk down the street or around they friends but the problem when they come across an officer what would happen? Will it just be civil conversation or  will they be put in a body bag? These are tough conversations I have with my brothers, trying to explains their rights to them and what they can do when they are in a situation like that. 

Week Eleven: 

When you lose   someone you love it is hard  to make peace with the idea of them not be around anymore. When it  to grief it like put a bandage over a gunshot wund just because its  covered doesn't mean it is healing. Yes it is covered but you can still feel the pain. Sometimes you have to take the bandage off and clean it that itself will be painful. Process the death of loved one is like the for me, I can pick myself up, get ready and throw a smile on my face but the pain still reminds. I have found different ways to cope with the pain but I don't think it will ever completely leave me. It was important for me to understand that I may not ever be okay and will this emptiness in my heart but  I will mange to through it with my family, friends and faith. 

 

Week Twelve: Colorado has always been my home away from home. I was born Kenya but I don't have any memories of it bemused the sores I hear from my family. I have lived in Colorado 17+ years and I am still not used to sown and the coldness it comes with. Watching the sown from bedroom where I have candles lit up and some my favorite snacks is probably the only thing about winter. A lot of travlers come around winter for skiing, I never been and truth be told I am not planing on it. What I do love about Colorado is the reassures they have fir everything. My family came here has refuges and we been taken care by some amazing organizations. 

Week Thirteen:

Identity. I didn’t know how many I had, but yet I expressed every single one of them except one major one. I am a female that upholds her title: one that cleans and cooks. I was Kenyan the moment I came out of my mother’s womb in the Dadaab. I became a refugee once I fled my home in Kenya. I was an  African American the second I became a citizen in America. I am an older sister of eight siblings, but before that, I was a younger sister to three older siblings. I am a daughter. All these identities, I didn’t choose for myself, but wouldn’t trade it for anything else. My identity was never a big burden for me, but my identity was incomplete. One identity that speaks louder than any other, the identity I choose for myself, and an identity that has been the hardest to obtain. The identity is being a Muslim.

Week Fourteen:

I grew a passion for Islam, I found a path through the guidance of Allah, and felt warmth by each verse of the Quran I was exposed to. Islam became my greatest value and I carry it with me everywhere. I would determine things based on my religion. For example, being in a place that allows me to pray,  my future career, and recognizing I am Muslim and what accomdations I might need. Allah said in the Quran ``Remember me, I will remember you” (verse 2:152). Any promise Allah makes is granted. Through tough times and good, I will remember Allah because Allah helped me survive high school and everything in life. Allah comes first and everything else comes next. 

 

Week Fifteen:

One thing I recognized within myself is I can be very self critical and nobody defeats me more than myself. Sometimes the fears I create is in my own head. For this class I am very grateful I learned how to over my fear of creativity and how receiving feedback is not all about judgement. I came in this class thinking this was another art class by at then at end this class gave me confidence in my creativity. I am very glad I did my business plan and  put into action this did not only help me but made many parents and community happy as well.