Today is The National's seventh birthday. I've been writing for the paper for a little over six years now and this anniversary seemed like a good opportunity to reminisce on my time working at The National. I never thought that an internship during the summer after my sophomore year in college would turn into such a major part of my life.
When I spent a few months helping reporters with stories and eventually was encouraged to contribute my own pieces, it was initially all part of my personal “get to know Abu Dhabi” better scheme. I figured I could do something different during my holidays and also benefit from working at a paper by being forced to interact with people I would normally not have a chance to meet. Not only was I made to speak to Abu Dhabi residents for news stories, I also ended up meeting and learning from some great journalists, photographers, editors and fellow interns who were all so excited to be part of what was then a brand new initiative.
As far back as I remember, reading and writing have always been a part of my life, yet I never thought that I would have anything to say that would matter to anyone else.
The first time I heard feedback about one of my articles I was still living in New York City and because I was so far away the fact that my words had been published and read never really sunk in. Hearing from a complete stranger that an article I had written resonated with them made me more aware of the responsibility I had each week to try my best to produce something engaging.
We live in a cosmopolitan society, but I feel that sometimes we mistake unity for conformity. Yet what I find so beautiful about Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole is how all our differences come together to unite us as part of one community. In a culture where it is normally looked down on to “air your dirty laundry”, I find it is actually beneficial to address issues up-front and tackle them together rather then pretend they don’t happen or brush them away under a metaphorical rug. I believe that reading the paper is one of the best ways to start familiarising yourself with a society. This is why it is important to encourage more Emiratis, as well as people living in the Emirates, to write and contribute to the media. Whether it is journalists, photographers, columnists or concerned citizens, we need to empower people from society to feel safe and confident to voice their opinions and tackle the issues that really matter to them.
I believe in the power of words to create conversation that can spur change. Simply having a platform to share ideas is so important in a society no matter if you agree with them or not. As long as there is mutual respect, hearing each other out is crucial in order for society to grow. Writing for a prospective audience is an extremely humbling experience. Not only has it taught me to be more introspective as I try to tease out my own feelings and opinions, but both positive and negative feedback have pushed me to work harder to better communicate my viewpoints. I’ve also become more receptive to and patient with ideas that are contrary to my own.
Growing up abroad, my work with The National helped give me some insight into what was happening in the Emirates. Recently I have become exposed to some wonderful Emirati writers who have brought up issues such as the continued efforts we need to make to ensure gender equality, the role of creativity in innovation, the importance of looking past the taboo of mixed marriages and the need for Emirati teachers in schools. It has been extremely positive for me to read about issues that are so important, and its words like theirs that keep me inspired.
I wish The National a very happy birthday and hope that it continues to support a generation of thoughtful and insightful writers.
Fatima Al Shamsi is a globetrotting Emirati foodie, film buff and football fanatic
