Arabian Soundbites
By Manar Dihyem, Writing 360 Mentee
My podcast trailer stands for what I stand for: music, respect, and equality. Creating this trailer, I felt a warm light in my heart and mind as I commemorated one of the strongest women: Whitney Houston. If I felt something when making it, I assure that you will feel something when you hear it, and that is a promise.
Process
The sound and rhythm of music has always symbolized a small part of me and my childhood. The reasoning behind this podcast is simply the joy and happiness of being a child. It’s something I believe people take advantage of and, oftentimes, forget.
Meet the Pair
MENTEE MANAR DIHYEM & MENTOR JAIME FULLER
Manar’s Anecdote: Getting to know Jaime for who she really is has been nothing but honoring. She is one of the brightest and most talented women I have ever met. We’ve learned from each other that encouragement is vital in any relationship. I pray that our bond never breaks, as she has become not only my writing mentor and my friend, but my mentor for life.
Jaime’s Anecdote: The speech that Manar decided to include in this anthology—her last Girls Write Now publication before graduating— shows off how impressive she is, and how much this writer and thinker and activist has grown over her time in the program. It’s not just in the words on the page; picture her giving this speech, with immense verve and excellent timing, in front of her school. She’s a confident person who has read her work at the New-York Historical Society and been the lead in the school musical. She is an expert at reading and singing words she cares about in front of a crowd. And, a coda for the speech we worked on during our pair sessions—she won the election!
Manar Dihyem
Manar Dihyem is a class of 2020 Girls Write Now mentee based in Queens, NY.
