The shuffling of paper. The clicking of keys. The appearance of words. The ambition of a young mind. Her eyes are focused and her dream is spilling out into the screen. The dream takes the form of words which spell out magnificent phrases. Sometimes the dream is a simple poem, and other times it is a story. She constantly asks herself questions about what this dream could be and uses them to amplify it. Her readers see her dream and wonder to themselves, how is it possible that someone like her could make a dream like this? This is junior Ayaana Noman, a young Muslim girl with a dream to write.
Noman spends her time painting, debating, cooking and watching movies. Ever since she was a little girl, Noman has had a passion for writing stories and poems. Her paintings helped her think and reflect on the human thoughts and feelings and was able to write them down in the poems and stories she made. She especially loves oil painting because of how slow the dry time is.
“With oil paints, you can go as slow as you want and I find it very relaxing and from these relaxing experiences I find that I have a lot of time to think while I do these oil paintings,” Noman said. “And when I have this time to think, I like to think about my art, what else I’m gonna draw and then my poems. My poems are especially derived from these specific times where I get to think and art is a very important passion of mine.”
Though if you asked Noman herself, she would tell you her biggest inspiration would be her parents. They saw the spark of creativity in her and cheered her to keep going and keep pushing through. They saw her dream and encouraged her to make it real. Not just her parents, but her family too. A lot of her books were dedicated to them. Made in honor of them.
“Because of this closeness it really helps me to write more and dedicate my books towards my parents because they’re truly my biggest inspiration,” Noman said. “They inspire me to write. They push me towards my goals.”
Of course, her paintings weren’t the only inspiration; she created a dream by using ideas from this dream. From life itself.
“I like to enjoy my life sometimes too. I like to go outside, I like to go to the grocery store, I like to go on walks, I like to go to the gym,” Noman said. “I like to do all these things because they really just let me have time to myself and let me have these experiences in the real world, and when I get these experiences I take them and turn them into works that I want to put in my book. I derive lots of stories from my real life and things that I see in my real life.”
Sometimes real life can be a senseless mess with no rhymes or reasons. When this happens Noman cures herself of it by writing. She’s made it clear that she loves to help people and debate to speak out for them. Her stories and poems are meant to be inspirational not just for her, but for others.
“Writing is an intensely introspective journey that allows me to explore the depths of my thoughts and emotions especially as I traverse genres,” Noman said. “It allows me to find peace and escape from the chaotic turmoil in my brain and allows me to find an outlet. Each story I craft reflects my desire to delve into the complexities of the human experience, providing a platform for readers to connect with their own lives and emotions. Through my work, I aim to illuminate the shared struggles and triumphs of our existence while inspiring a sense of hope and curiosity about the world around us.”
The themes of a lot of Noman’s stories are meant to make the reader think. Her fascination for the intricacies of the human mind are what drive her to capture the vivid sense of her themes.
“The human mind is a remarkable and intricate labyrinth filled with thoughts, emotions, and memories that shape our identities and influence our perceptions of the world,” Noman said. “It serves as both a canvas for creativity and a repository of profound experiences.”
Her stories in general make the reader think as they delve into the complex minds of human beings and the thoughts and feelings they share.
“I believe that to truly understand the human experience, one must delve into this intricacy, reflecting on how our minds navigate the challenges and possibilities of life,” Noman said. “In my writing, I aim to capture this complexity, allowing my characters to embody the diverse manifestations of the human mind and inviting readers to ponder the endless possibilities that lie ahead.”
Noman would continue to dream. Dream of mountains and rivers. Dream of the characters that lived in these places. Dream of life. If Noman has taught us anything, it is that no matter what culture or race you belong to, if you can grasp hold of a dream, you can grasp hold of life itself.
“Storytelling is a powerful tool that transcends boundaries, fostering understanding and empathy in a world that often feels divided,” Noman said. “Through my diverse body of work, which includes everything from sci-fi to romance, I strive to inspire readers to contemplate their own journeys while grappling with universal themes of love, conflict, and resilience. It is a profound responsibility to honor those diverse voices and perspectives within our society, and I am deeply fulfilled by the opportunity to spark conversations and provoke thought through my writing.”
