There is nothing impossible in life. Obstacles are not roadblocks—they are opportunities that help us rise, grow, and make our mark in the world.
Born into a Pashtun Afghan family, Shoughla grew up in a society where educating women and girls was often discouraged. Despite coming from a middle-class background with financial struggles, her parents made it their mission to ensure all their children, including four daughters and a son, received a proper education.
My parents always stood like a mountain at our back. They faced criticism for allowing us to study in a co-educational system, but they never wavered.
From a young age, Shoughla and her siblings took on teaching jobs to support their education. Inspired by their parents’ resilience, they fought for their future despite the societal backlash.
After completing high school at BiBi Aisha Girls School in Peshawar, Pakistan, Shoughla pursued her lifelong dream of studying medicine. She enrolled at Ariana University in Peshawar, but soon after, an Afghan government mandate required universities to relocate within Afghanistan. This forced her to move to Ghazni province, a region known for its conservative values and strict social norms.
In Ghazni, women were not allowed to leave their homes without permission. Studying in such an environment was a battle every day.
Determined to continue, Shoughla later transferred to Nangarhar University, where conditions were slightly more manageable. But her biggest challenge was yet to come.
In my fifth year of medical school, I became a mother. The joy of having my daughter was immense, but balancing motherhood with medical school was exhausting. The social judgment I faced only grew stronger.
Despite the criticism from men who couldn’t accept a woman pursuing a career alongside them, she pushed forward, determined to prove that women are just as capable and deserving of success.
However, life in Afghanistan became increasingly dangerous for her family. Due to threats against her husband’s life, they were forced to flee the country in 2016. Seeking refuge in Turkey, Shoughla’s life took yet another turn.
Becoming a refugee was never part of my plan, but survival required us to leave. I had no choice but to start over.
Granted temporary protection status by the UNHCR, she quickly found a way to help others, volunteering with SGDD-ASAM, a partner organization of the UNHCR. Using her medical knowledge and multilingual skills (English, Urdu, Pashto, Persian, and Turkish), she assisted refugees in accessing healthcare, finding housing, and enrolling their children in school.
Helping displaced families reminded me that suffering knows no borders. It deepened my commitment to serve those in need, no matter where I was.
During this time, she also welcomed her second child, a son, further strengthening her resolve to create a better future for her family. But the refugee life was filled with uncertainty and hardship. The struggle to balance multiple identities – student, mother, refugee, and immigrant – was overwhelming.
Then, in late 2023, her family was accepted for resettlement in the United States.
Leaving everything behind for a new country was terrifying. Would I be able to start over? Would my dreams still be possible?
The transition was difficult. Despite her medical degree and years of experience, she was told she had to start from entry-level jobs. It was a heartbreaking realization, but she refused to give up.
Success isn’t a straight line; it’s a series of peaks and valleys. But dreams don’t disappear—they evolve.
Just two months after arriving in the U.S., she was offered a position in the medical field as an ophthalmic technician in Washington, D.C. While she may not hold the title of doctor just yet, she knows her journey is far from over.
I will rise again, not just for me, but for my children. I want them to see that persistence pays off, that no matter how difficult life gets, you can rebuild and achieve your goals.
Her biggest lesson in life?
Never let others define your limits. You are the creator of your own story. Restart, reset, and refocus as many times as needed until you become the best version of yourself.
To Afghan women facing similar struggles, she says:
Keep faith and believe in yourself. This dark time in Afghanistan will pass. History has shown that nothing is permanent. We will rise again.
Through her unwavering determination, Shoughla Hameed is a testament to the power of education, perseverance, and hope. Though she has faced countless setbacks, she continues to push forward, rebuild, and inspire others to do the same.
Her story is a reminder to all Afghan women that their dreams are worth fighting for.
Open Mic is The Afghan Times podcast, where Afghan women share their stories in their own voices, on their own terms—open to every Afghan woman.
