A Life Journey

Abstract

This chapter tells the story of Deema, a refugee newcomer student whose narratives express much gratitude despite the tensions she experienced while adjusting to her new life in Canada. Deema’s story features several life transitions: between living in Iraq and Jordan, living in a refugee camp in Syria, and then living in Canada, as well as her transitions between elementary and high school, and between childhood and adolescence. Deema’s story as a refugee young girl adds a unique perspective to the book as she shares incidents of bullying and feelings of otherness upon her arrival in Canada. Her unpleasant initial experiences with schoolmates in her Canadian elementary school make it harder for her to cope as she moves forward to high school. Despite her initial struggles, Deema eventually finds comfort in making friends and developing a sense of belonging.