Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Sabr Hanna can only remember certain things about her early childhood.

At the age of 6, Hanna and her family had to flee Iraq as a result of war.

“I knew that we were in war,” Hanna said. “We were taken as political asylum.”

A sophomore in event management, Hanna had aspirations of studying abroad, but she is afraid that if she leaves the United States, she won’t be able to return.

 “I do not support [Trump],” Hanna said. “He handles things the wrong way.”

On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that banned travel from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The ban prevented green card holders from said countries from entering the United States.

Hanna doesn’t remember much about living in Iraq, but she does remember the beautiful scenery of the country. After the United States declared war on her home country, her family had to flee Iraq as a result of the incredibly dangerous conditions.

After traveling throughout the United States, they finally landed in Glenview, Illinois, where her family currently lives. Hanna remembered the kindness and compassion of those she met in Glenview. 

The move introduced Hanna to cultural diversity she would have never seen in Iraq. She said people were never teased or experienced other forms of discrimination for their ethnic or religious background.

“I had friends that were Indian, black, Asian and Hispanic,” Hanna said. “They were all together, and it was normal.” 

Hanna remembered struggling with writing in English when she began school in second grade in the United States. After struggling, she eventually had to be moved to first grade.

“I had to learn English the best way I could as a first grader,” she said. 

Reading and writing became difficult for Hanna, and her attitude didn’t assist in helping her improve.

“I was a stubborn kid,” Hanna said. “I was hardheaded.” 

She eventually became an avid reader, improving her academic performance. This momentum would carry her through high school and graduatio. 

Hanna was raised a Catholic. Her father was of Indian descent, but he died when she was young, so Hanna doesn’t know much about her Indian heritage.

Choosing to attend Iowa State took Hanna out of the diverse community of Glenview and sent her to a predominantly white institution. Hanna remembered attending her first lecture at Iowa State. She was astonished by the experience. 

“I went to a lecture and there were two black students, a Hispanic student and me,” she said. “I know the real world has more diversity, but to be in a school without much is surprising.”

During her freshman year, a close friend on campus influenced Hanna to consider something that she always wanted to do — join a sorority. Hanna decided not to go through primary recruitment for sororities because she could not afford it at the time. 

Her friend would encourage her to participate in secondary recruitment, which led Hanna to her current sorority. She did not share the name of the sorority. 

“The recruitment process is odd,” Hanna said. “They want to get to know you. It’s like being interviewed constantly.”

A cultural minority in a traditionally white sorority, Hannah doesn’t feel completely different from the other girls. 

“I am a very American immigrant,” Hanna said.

Misconceptions about Iraq, her nationality and religious beliefs are things that Hanna has had trouble accepting. She said people often assume that she is of Hispanic or Latinx descent. 

Hanna is fluent in Arabic. She said people are often startled when she communicates with them in Arabic. 

“I don’t have a [foreign] accent,” Hanna said. “Some words that exist in Arabic don’t exist in English.” 

When Hanna tells people that she is from Iraq, it isn’t unusual for them to assume she is Muslim. 

“Islam isn’t the only religion practiced in Iraq,” Hanna said.

Although Hanna doesn’t believe she can relate to other immigrants and their experiences, she can understand their reactions to current events, even though she may not always agree with them. 

“Sometimes you don’t have to say what’s on your mind,” Hanna said. “You’re not always right. You’re not always wrong. That does not mean you have to be angry all the time.”

Hanna said that instead of trying to understand someone else’s culture, some groups try to assimilate people who are different into their own.  

“Be conscious of others,” Hanna said. 

Trump’s travel ban has caused Hanna to think twice about her dream of studying abroad. She said she did not understand the motive behind the ban, and she believes it will increase tensions between Americans. 

Despite her feelings of tension, Hanna remains optimistic of her future. She wants to take her citizenship test and become an U.S. citizen. 

“I’m in the final stretch on becoming a citizen,” Hanna said. “All I need to do is sign up to take the test.”