Title: Dima’s Story
My name is Dima Sulaiman. I am from Iraq. I was born in Kuwait in 1978. In Kuwait I went to an English school, and I swam at the club every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Every year I celebrated my birthday with my friends.
Every summer holiday I stayed three months in Iraq with my dad. We visited my father’s family and my mom’s sister.
My life changed in 1990. In 1990, war began between the United States, Kuwait, and Iraq. We left everything—our house and our friends. My mom, dad, brother, and I drove to Iraq in two cars. We brought our cat, Anter, and our Filipino house helper. It was a new chapter for us.
My dad had worked in Kuwait, but he didn’t find a job in Iraq for the first year. Then he met a neighbor who was an antique dealer, and my dad worked with him. I went to regular school, and my brother went to a special needs school.
Later my grandmother (my father’s mom) placed me in a school across from her house. The headmaster knew her. I lived with my grandmother for a year and a half. She even hired a teacher for me. My grandmother was amazing—I can’t forget what she did. I studied at a regular school for two years and then attended a special needs school near my house. I told my dad I wanted the special school, and I liked it. I became the best student there and taught my friends how to knit. My brother was also a student there.
After I graduated, the teachers and headmaster told me to stay and help. I remained at the school for 14 years.
In 2004 U.S. troops attacked our house three times. One time a bomb was placed in front of our home; the street was blocked. Another time soldiers came in the middle of the night and took my dad for three hours by mistake. After that, my dad went to Jordan and later called us to join him. I was very sad to leave my neighbors, my friends, and the place where I volunteered.
In Jordan I searched for schools with special needs programs. I didn’t like how one school treated students with Down Syndrome, so I moved to another school that I loved. I taught students skills like holding a sandwich, eating independently, and grasping a LEGO—by myself.
Then I applied to come to the United States. My dad was happy. I applied twice because I was worried about my brother and our future. My grandmother passed away in 2012. After she died, I applied again, and two months later we arrived in America.
In the U.S. the school administrators allowed me to attend college. I studied at Truman College and took ESL classes. I also studied at Human (Social) Services and met a woman named Nanna, who helped me continue my education. She picked me up, took me to the library, and taught me about early childhood education. I will now work with children at a program called Agent of Hope.
I also went to Centro Romero and earned a customer service certificate from the Iraqi Mutual Aid Society, where I volunteered before COVID. Now I am a U.S. citizen.
My dad once told me I couldn’t pass the citizenship test because it was too hard. He even gave me a report to show I was disabled. I handed them the report, but they didn’t need it. I took the test and passed. The first time when I finished, he asked if I passed. I said, “I don’t know.” The second time I came out with a thumbs‑up—I passed! All my teachers came to my ceremony.