Asia Subhani
I grew up in Norway and started working at just 16. It wasn't because I had to, but because something inside me insisted on standing on my own two feet. Even with a supportive family, independence wasn't just a choice for me—it was a necessity.
Back then, it wasn't common or easy for a young girl to choose an autonomous life, but I set my fears aside and paved my own way. At 20, I moved out of my family home. It was a difficult decision, bringing with it loneliness, heavy responsibility, and uncertainty, but I stood my ground.
I have now lived on my own for ten years—a decade filled with challenges, tears, and exhaustion, but also immense growth, strength, and self-awareness. There were many moments when I could have given up, but I never traded away my independence. Every time I fell, I gathered myself and kept going. Today, it might seem normal for women from immigrant backgrounds to live independently, but ten years ago, it required true courage. I started a journey that many young women are only just beginning today. I am proud of myself—not because the road was easy, but because it was hard, and I didn't give up. I have no regrets; this path has made me who I am.
