This evening I was honored to be inducted as a Fellow in the Academy of Emergency Nursing.
I want to share my speech with you all as I feel it is important to recognize those that shaped us into who we’ve become, but first I want to recognize the incredible people that were also inducted alongside me as I am in awe of the work that they do.
I also want to thank my friends that took time to come out and celebrate this moment with me. These friends are part of my “framily,” and for that I am forever grateful.
My disaster work is just a start and I hope that I am able to continue my work and make a difference in the lives of those I am blessed to take care of. Now, my speech…
”Good evening.
Standing here as the daughter of immigrants, a proud Palestinian, a hijabi, and an active duty service member, I carry with me the resilience of my family, my faith, and my heritage.
The struggles along the way to this moment have not been easy, but they have shaped me, and I hope I am making my family proud. I only wish they were arounf to celebrate this moment with me. However, I am deeply grateful for my friend, my framily, Tim, Jake, and Amanda,-who are here to share this moment with me.
Tonight, I am humbled to be the first hijabi inducted into the Academy-a reminder that representation matters, and that our profession grows stronger when every voice and story has a place.
This honor reflects the mentors, colleagues, and communities who stood beside me, and the collective work we share in advancing emergency nursing.
I also carry with me the memory of those I have cared for in disasters- people I met at their worst moments, when everything around them had been lost.
Bearing witness to their pain, and their resilience, continues to guide my purpose. My hope is to leave a legacy of compassionate advocacy in disaster response-ensuring that in every crisis, we protect the most vulnerable, learn from the past, and guard the future.
This moment is for the next generation-may they live to see a world where peace prevails.
God bless you all.”
#adventureswithnursejamla