# data[].attributes.body
How does the Author link interview with Ahmedi support this idea?

# data[].attributes.body
1. I think the statement means she could have stopped and not tried but she pushed herself to keep doing it.

2.In the author link it says that farah had not given up because she is thriving

# data[].attributes.body
1.I believe the statement means that she could have given up on life but she decided to be strong and keep going on with her life.
2. In the author link it states that Farah had not given up because she has blossomed into a thriving high school student who is being actively recruited by Yale and Harvard.

# data[].attributes.body
1.)I think "a testament to the power of the human spirit" in my opinion is how strong a person is. How much strength they have mentally and spiritually

# data[].attributes.body
1.) I think it take a lot of cerage to stay with people that could spell trouble.

# data[].attributes.headline
1. The Introduction to The Other Side of the Sky states that Farah Ahmedi's memoir "is a testament to the power of the human spirit." What do you think this statement means?I think it means it isn’t about physical strength it is about want desire.2. How does the Authorlink interview with Ahmedi support this idea?She didn’t just wait two days because she was strong she wanted a interview to go to america

# data[].attributes.subject
1. The Introduction to The Other Side of the Sky states that Farah Ahmedi's memoir "is a testament to the power of the human spirit." What do you think this statement means?I think it means it isn’t about physical strength it is about want desire.2. How does the Authorlink interview with Ahmedi support this idea?She didn’t just wait two days because she was strong she wanted a interview to go to america

# data[].attributes.body
Yes  I think their very outgoing an on  point

The author putt more detail in what he wrote

# data[].attributes.body
1. I think it means that people are survivors or that they are really nice  to other people.

2. It helps us understand more about the interview and also helps us out about what is happening in the interview.

# data[].attributes.body
The

# data[].attributes.body
1.) I think this means that humans have a  lot of power. It’s showing how far we can go to try and do our best. We can achieve anything if we really try, even if the circumstances are difficult.

2.) The Authorlink supports it because it shows and explains how Farah accomplished everything. It showed and gave facts about how we can do many great things. We really just people to be there for us and support us.

# data[].attributes.body
1. The introduction is the that she believes in herself and yet  she did make it far in life and if she can do it then I'm pretty sure anyone else can.

2. It supports the text and the main idea an

# data[].attributes.headline
I think that the statement means that even thow she lost her leg had to run from her country she stills pushed on and now look where she is.The southern linked with her by saying the story in first person like it says i went to school.

# data[].attributes.subject
I think that the statement means that even thow she lost her leg had to run from her country she stills pushed on and now look where she is.The southern linked with her by saying the story in first person like it says i went to school.

# data[].attributes.body
Evan

# data[].attributes.headline
       Camila Campano                  1. I think testament of power of spirit means that they are very   that he/she will never give up or lose hope in things.

# data[].attributes.subject
       Camila Campano                  1. I think testament of power of spirit means that they are very   that he/she will never give up or lose hope in things.

# data[].attributes.body
2. It helps because it gives you more information and more of an idea of whats happening and it helps you understand it better.

# data[].attributes.body
2. The interview with Farah supports it because she explains in every detail of what happened, and she could've died at each of them, but she lived and escaped to america to start a new life.

# data[].attributes.body
1. A testament to the power of the human spirit means that it shows how strong someone can really be.

# data[].attributes.body
I think That farah Ahmedi's is a resemblance to postive vibes and is a great person with good manners and never leaves a person out of anything

# data[].attributes.headline
1.i think it means that  it is to show you that you and do more than you think2. It supports it by going into detail of what she actually had to face 

# data[].attributes.subject
1.i think it means that  it is to show you that you and do more than you think2. It supports it by going into detail of what she actually had to face 

# data[].attributes.body
#1-She had a hard life and she is inspiring.

#2-She states details about what happend atthe tme.

# data[].attributes.body
The statement mean something around the lines of the human spirit is the most powerful part of your body. It also could mean there are never any horrible things in life when you belive.

# data[].attributes.body
1.The intro to the Other Side Of The Sky Farah Ahmedi had lost half of her family to the war.Farah Ahmedi is a legless girl with prosthetic leg and she does not give up for anything.She has to take care of her mother.

# data[].attributes.body
1. I think it means that she was being "tested" on her strengths.
2. The authorlink supports the idea by stating details in the text, or giving us all the important information we need to know.

# data[].attributes.headline
It means to like the mountains are like on the other side of the mountain and like the sky on the other side.To make the statement true its like the sky on the other side like a cloud or something American memoir.

# data[].attributes.subject
It means to like the mountains are like on the other side of the mountain and like the sky on the other side.To make the statement true its like the sky on the other side like a cloud or something American memoir.

# data[].attributes.body
Make her feel what she felt and she wants them to feel bad
Gaby

# data[].attributes.body
1. the statement power in the human spirit means overcoming things  that are in your way

2.the way that her missing leg was in her way but she overcame that

# data[].attributes.body
1.I think this statement means that throughout all of the horrible things that were being seen, there is always a good place to go to when something bad happens.
2. The Author Link Interview helps support the main idea because it explains how she felt by her saying it. The fact that it's her saying it rather than a reporter telling us what she said, makes what she said more important.

# data[].attributes.body
2. How does the Authorlink interview with Ahmedi support this idea?

It supports the idea because Farah kept on talking about on how she nearly died many times. I can prove this by stating that in the text it clearly says in one of the questions in the interview that Farah says that she almost died and would never see her family again.

# data[].attributes.body
1. She is trying to get back to her home on the other side of the border with her mom and get there safely.

2. It is in a Q and A form of exchanging.

# data[].attributes.body
1. The Introduction to The Other Side of the Sky states that Farah Ahmedi's memoir "is a testament to the power of the human spirit." What do you think this statement means? What I think this statement means is that no matter how much hardship you go through and the obstacles in your life you keep on pushing.

# data[].attributes.body
1. I feel that Farah’s memoir means a will to the power of someone’s true potential.

2.Farah pushed herself to learn the English language when she first came into the US. When Farah saw the chance to learn the language she took it, and she worked harder with the help of Alyce. Farah showed her true potential when she took the chance to learn.

# data[].attributes.body
It means to like the mountains are like on the other side of the mountain and like the sky on the other side.

To make the statement true its like the sky on the other side like a cloud or something

2she trying to make people feel

# data[].attributes.body
I think  '' A testament to the will power of the human spirit'' I think it means to never stop fighting for whats right and to never give up.
It helps support the idea by, giving you information about it.

# data[].attributes.headline
Interview with Farah Ahmedi By Sean Black

# data[].attributes.subject
Interview with Farah Ahmedi By Sean Black

# data[].attributes.body
1. it means never stop trying and help others
2. She loses a leg and still had the courage to flee her home country

# data[].attributes.body
1. This means that Farah Ahmedi’s memoir is a will, and very inspiring, along with that, Farah is very powerful.
2. The Authorlink seems like it is asking questions, and is getting information from them, which in the information, it supports topic above when Farah was helped by a professional writer, and lots more facts and information that supports that.

# data[].attributes.body
1.  I think the statement is a way for the author to say that anyone especially Farah can achieve what ever they put there mind to .

2.  I think the authorlink supported my idea  becuase Farah  Ahmedi said that she liked writing the book and a lot of people were proud becuase she survived Afghanistan and she acheived everything that she wanted to achieve

# data[].attributes.body
Kelechi Duru

1.  What it means is testing your spirit to see how strong you are.

2. It gives facts that strengthen the phrase by key details.

# data[].attributes.headline
2. How does the Authorlink interview with Ahmedi support this idea? It supports my idea because It states that when she was in the hospital she did not have any hope that she will ever walk again.

# data[].attributes.subject
2. How does the Authorlink interview with Ahmedi support this idea? It supports my idea because It states that when she was in the hospital she did not have any hope that she will ever walk again.

# data[].attributes.headline
1. I think the statement  "is a testament to the power of the human spirit." Means The human spirit is a symbol of Hope.

# data[].attributes.subject
1. I think the statement  "is a testament to the power of the human spirit." Means The human spirit is a symbol of Hope.

# data[].attributes.headline
1. This statement means to show or empower the human spirit

# data[].attributes.subject
1. This statement means to show or empower the human spirit

# data[].attributes.body
2. The author-link supports it by emphasizing what she had done

# data[].attributes.body
1. By saying that her story is a testament of the human spirit, they are emphasizing just how difficult her journey was and how it tested Farah and her spirit.
2. The Authorlink interview supports this idea because in the interview, Farah speaks of the hardships she went through and how they tested her to the limit.

# data[].attributes.body
1. By saying her story is a testament of the human spirit, they are emphasizing how difficult her journey really was and that it tested her and her spirit.
2. The interview supports this idea because

# data[].attributes.body
1. I think it means that she is trying to make people feel what she was feeling during her tough times and the power she had in her spirit to get through them. To show how strong the human spirit is.
2. The authorlink interview with Ahmedi supports this idea because in the interview they were asking how she felt during those times and what she had to do to fight through them.

# data[].attributes.body
1.I think that this statement means an acknowledgement to the mental and physical willpower of a human being
2.I think that the Authorlink interview supports the idea because of all the hardships she talked about in her interview, how she thought that she would not see her family again, or when she was alone in a new country.

# data[].attributes.body
1.What it means is that even if you are going through hard times use all your power and never give up and always hope for the best.
2.The Authorlink interview supports the idea because they asked her questions like how did she feel and how did she get threw it, how did she escape and she said she learned how to hope when things got hard for her and her mother.

# data[].attributes.headline
1. I think "a testament to the power of the human spirit" is how strong a person is mentally, and how mentally strong they are.

# data[].attributes.subject
1. I think "a testament to the power of the human spirit" is how strong a person is mentally, and how mentally strong they are.

# data[].attributes.body
2. She is questioning how she handled the things she went through, and what some of her thoughts were.

# data[].attributes.headline
#1-It means that humans could travel/do anything that they can even travel the whole entire mountains.

# data[].attributes.subject
#1-It means that humans could travel/do anything that they can even travel the whole entire mountains.

# data[].attributes.body
#2-It gives details about her, her family, her situation

# data[].attributes.headline
1. I feel that Farah’s memoir means a will to the power of someone’s true potential.

# data[].attributes.subject
1. I feel that Farah’s memoir means a will to the power of someone’s true potential.

# data[].attributes.body
2.  Farah pushed herself to learn the English language when she first came into the US. When Farah saw the chance to learn the language she took it, and she worked harder with the help of Alyce. Farah showed her true potential when she took the chance to learn.

# data[].attributes.body
1) I think the statement "a testament to the power of the human spirit" means to not to give up and everything is possible if you try.
2)  The Authorlink interview with Ahmedi support this idea because in the interview it states that Ahmedi almost give up and can never walk again, but she continued going and she can walk again.

# data[].attributes.headline
1. The statement means that she is a very strong person and other people look up to her.                                                    2. The Authorlink interview with Ahmedi supports this idea by

# data[].attributes.subject
1. The statement means that she is a very strong person and other people look up to her.                                                    2. The Authorlink interview with Ahmedi supports this idea by

# data[].attributes.body
realizing all the things she has been through like her childhood in Afghanistan was filled with horror and sadness.

# data[].attributes.body
1. I think it means courage and the hardship of being in her position in life

2. Because it say that she lost her leg from a landmine and that shows  how hard her life can be in Afghanistan and gives you that question in your mind saying. "What if I was in her position ?"

# data[].attributes.body
1. The Authorlink interveiw supports this idea by it being so realistic so we can understand it more.

# data[].attributes.body
2. In other words "As long you have faith you will always make it."

# data[].attributes.body
The Authorlink interview supports the idea because in the interview,  she made  memoir about her life and submitted it into Good Morning America. Her story was chosen and now she is in high school.

# data[].attributes.body
By asking how life was in Afghanistan and how it is in America. Farah had insecurities and she tells us how she met Alyce. Farah also talks about education in Afghanistan, how getting and going to school is a problem there.

# data[].attributes.body
The statement means it is showing what the human spirit can do and in Farah's case, how she was able to climb and cross to another country with only one leg, living as a refugee in America, and how much different life was in Afghanistan.

# data[].attributes.body
This statement means that it was a test for the humans because Farah didn't have a leg and her dad and brothers died from a rocket attack.

# data[].attributes.body
the interview showed us that farah never gave up on herself, &' that her will was to always look for the best even through the hardest times.

# data[].attributes.body
this statement means that it is her will to a human spirit. she was "special." farah wanted an education, so she went after it

# data[].attributes.body
1. The statement "is a testament to the power of the human spirit" means that something enriches the human spirit and gives it hope.

2. The Authorlink interview with Ahmedi supports this idea by showing how much Ahmedi has learned in life and how wise he is, and how he might have said that in his life.

# data[].attributes.body
1)This means that this is a very powerful story and by that she means that it is very encouraging or amazing.
2)  It supports this idea because it is an amazing that this young girl had survived all that she has and still is alive and healthy

# data[].attributes.body
By:Elizabeth Luu

1. That means that she is saying something about the power of peoples spirit and stating how we need to have hope in whatever we do and to stay strong and pick ourselves back up.

2. Farah Ahmedi stated that " In life there is a high part and a low part. When you are in the low part you must try to get up. Just run, climb. Don't sit on the bottom." She is saying that just because you are in a low part of your life, you can't just stay there you have to be strong and pick yourself back up. That relates to the introduction to "The Other Side of the Sky " because it shows that our human spirit has to be strong.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe that the Author-link interview helps by talking about her situation and Farah's own personal feelings about her struggle.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe this means that it was a real test of human strength, her mindset, and power to overcome her situation

# data[].attributes.body
The author link supports this because in the article it say the rest of Farah's family either died or went missing yet Farah still pushes her mom to make the trip to America.

# data[].attributes.body
1. It means being an example using the power you have to change everyone to be like you.
2. The Authorlink interview with Ahmedi supports the idea because it gives facts about the Ahmedi and her life.

# data[].attributes.body
I think it means that you have to try your hardest to succeed and for Farah, that was to begin a new life. The interview helps because Farah starts to talk about everything that happened to her and that helped explain the hard work that she put in on escaping.

# data[].attributes.body
I am pretty sure it means that Farah had many hard ships during and many losses but she still kept her spirits up.

# data[].attributes.body
1. i think that it means that everyone thought that her story was sad and felt really bad for her and Farah thought she was going to die but she did not and that means she had spirit.
2. Authorlink said that her more sold be put into the competition and after all the people read it they were impacted from it and voted on hers. and Authorlink said that she shod wright a book and more stories about it.

# data[].attributes.body
These are the two questions to answer. Complete sentences and add your name in the Title
1. The Introduction to The Other Side of the Sky states that Farah Ahmedi's memoir "is a testament to the power of the human spirit." What do you think this statement means?
2. How does the Authorlink interview with Ahmedi support this idea?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Doris Booth

An Authorlink interview with Farah Ahmedi, one of three finalists for The Story of My Life
A project of ABC-TV and Simon & Schuster.

Doris Booth

April 2005

More finalist interviews coming soon.

Story finalist Farah Ahmedi's childhood in Afghanistan was filled with horror and sadness. Today she's a blossoming American teenager.

Everyone has a story to tell, but few have the resources and connections to find a publisher and an audience. For the three lucky finalists of The Story of My Life contest, however, their stories are being publicized nationwide as Simon Spotlight Entertainment, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, teams up with ABC-TV's Good Morning America to discover a first-time author of a compelling American memoir.

Three finalists have been chosen from among 5,000 essay entries and have appeared on ABC-TV's Good Morning America and 20/20. They are Betty Ferguson, a mother who forgave her daughter's killer; Mercedes Florencia Brudnicki, a sister whose brother was trapped in Castro's Cuba; and Farah Ahmedi, an Afghan girl who lost her leg to a landmine. The American public will vote (and you can too) now through April 8 on whose story they want to read. The winner, to be announced on April 22, will receive $10,000 and will have their book published by Simon Spotlight Entertainment and released on the announcement date. The winner also will embark on a national 10-city publicity tour.

This is the first Authorlink interview with each of the three finalists. We begin with Farah Ahmedi, a 17-year-old girl whose childhood in Afghanistan was filled with horror and sadness. What she endures in her war-torn homeland and how she escapes is tragic, yet ultimately hopeful. Her father and sisters were killed and her brothers went missing, never to be heard from again.

On the way to school one day at age seven, she steps on a land mine. The local hospital can do little but add to the excruciating pain by pouring alcohol on her horrible wounds. A humanitarian organization transports Farah to Germany, but is too late to save both her legs, infected with gangrene. One leg is amputated below the knee. The other is fused and rigid to this day. After two years alone in a German hospital, she returns to Afghanistan a changed person. After most of her family is wiped out by a rocket attack, she and her mother are left without a male relative to care for them. They walk across the mountains to reach Pakistan and somehow make it into a refuge camp. After four years of hardship she and her mother are chosen to come to America.

Since arriving here three years ago, Farah has blossomed into a thriving high school student who is being actively recruited by Yale and Harvard. Her new life in America is guided by mentor Alyce Litz, who rescued Farah and her mother from homelessness.

"Now that I am a finalist

I say, 'Oh my gosh, maybe

I am special.' "

—Farah

Farah Ahmedi, Afghan Refugee

Read Part of Her Story

AUTHORLINK: How did you come to participate in the contest?

FARAH: My friend Alyce says 'You should write your story.' I say 'I will write, after I am done with my education. Yes, I will write about my life.'

ALYCE: I had already encouraged her to write her story. Then I was watching Good Morning America and heard about The Story of My life contest. I thought it was a great opportunity for Farah. So, I helped her write her 600-word submission. I thought a lot of people would want to hear the story. We talked about how she overcame the tremendous odds to stay alive in Afghanistan and to get to America. Farah took over from there.

After having completed only first and second grade in Afghanistan, Farah was placed in a freshman class at high school. She had only learned 'survival' English. We found volunteer tutors for her from the local college to help her catch up. She was an extremely fast study and after only three years her English is amazingly good.

AUTHORLINK TO FARAH: How did you and Alyce meet?

FARAH: Alyce was a volunteer for World Relief. She liked my mother and me and she visited us in America for three months. Then she kept being our friend—for three years. Now we are friends forever.

ALYCE: I have been involved in social service with abused and neglected children for many years. I am the president of the board for Love, Inc., a Christian clearinghouse that serves the poor and needy of DuPage County. My husband and I took training at World Relief before 9/11. We read books about women in the Middle East. I hoped to find a pen pal from that area. After our training I was assigned as a volunteer mentor to Farah and her mom. It dawned on me that God answered my prayers to an even greater degree. I got both a mother and a daughter right here in the U.S

FARAH: Yes, now I have a second family. Alyce told me, 'Don't just call me mom. You have a mom.' So I call Alyce Mommy Two.

AUTHORLINK: I understand you worked with professional writer Tamin Ansary, assigned by the publisher to help you tell your story. What was that like?

FARAH: We sat down and I talked about my past life for five days. I was comfortable with him because he spoke my native language, Farsi.

ALYCE: He wanted this book in her voice and words. He recorded and transcribed exactly as she said it, telling the story in her own words.

AUTHORLINK: And if you win this contest, your book will be released April 22?

FARAH: Not if I win; when I win.

ALYCE: The finalists have three wonderful stories. Only the winning one will be published. But Farah's spirit of confidence has always been what keeps her going.

FARAH: People have told me I am special, that I have a special—how you say—gift? I didn't believe anybody. Now that I am a finalist I say, 'Oh my gosh, maybe I am special.'

"In hospital I didn't have any

hope that I can walk again,

no hope to see my family again."

—Farah

AUTHORLINK: You spent two years in a German hospital recovering from your injuries and completely separated from your family. How did that affect you?

FARAH: In hospital I didn't have any hope that I can walk again, no hope to see my family again.

AUTHORLINK: How were you able to get to America?

FARAH: In Pakistan they announce on the radio that the American government will take 1,000 Afghanis who need to go to the United States. There were so many people, we waited for two days for the interview. They saw my condition and that I needed a prosthesis. They said, 'Okay, your case is special. You and your mother can come.' We were on the list to go when 9/11 happened. It was sad. A door was open for us and then it closed. We had to wait for several more months to leave. By the time they were ready for us, mother was ill and very frightened to come to America. I knew it was her only chance for a future. She wasn't ready to come, but I dragged her out. [There's humor in her voice when she says this].

AUTHORLINK: Has the experience of being a finalist in this contest made you want to become a writer?

FARAH: I'll be happy to write books. I would also be happy to be in medicine, working with prosthetics. But I have to find out how smart I am. I also like technology, working with computers. My career could go in different directions.

ALYCE: I have been telling her about artists and famous people in history and reading to her. She has a thirst for knowledge. We have talked about doing a children's book together. She would write the story and we would both illustrate the book. Farah is a good communicator. She has wonderful listening skills and is sensitive to other people.

"When hard times come to you, you don't care whether you die. You just want to get away."

—Farah

AUTHORLINK: What was life like for you in Afghanistan?

FARAH: I was so scared. A lot of times I wonder why I didn't die. Those were hard times. When hard times come to you, you don't care whether you die. You just want to get away.

AUTHORLINK: What would you say to people who are still in war-torn countries?

FARAH: In life there is a high part and a low part. When you are in the low part you must try to get up. Just run, climb. Don't sit on the bottom.

AUTHORLINK: What is the biggest problem in Afghanistan?

FARAH: The biggest problem is education. I would tell parents to see that their kids go to school. I'm still struggling with my education. I am starting from the beginning. You suffer when you don't go to school. One day I will go back to my country and tell kids to go to school. I will tell parents to encourage their children to get an education.

AUTHORLINK: What has kept you going through these hard times?

FARAH: In Afghanistan I didn't have anyone. In the US I have Alyce. Before I met Alyce, I was alone. No one was asking me, 'How was your day?' My mom was quite sick. Alyce would call me and say 'You're doing great. You are smart.' It helped a lot. I began working harder. I had a chance to learn English with Alyce. She explained every word slowly. Mom speaks Farsi. I was the only who could speak in English.

AUTHORLINK: What was your first impression of America?

FARAH: When the airplane got over Chicago [Alyce lives in Wheaton, IL] I looked down and saw the beautiful lights. I never saw that much lights in my life. There were buildings and many cars. I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, did I die? Maybe I die and this is what they call heaven.'

AUTHORLINK: How does it feel to be in America and what do you like the most about being here?

FARAH: It feels great to be in America. I like that I have a friend, Alyce, who cares about me. She is there if I need someone. I'm safe here, no war. I like the love I have here, and the system. I like shopping.

It is so clean here. People take care of nature and things are in control—the streets, traffic lights. It is peaceful . . . safe.

—Doris Booth

Categorised in: Interviews, Written

This post was written by Doris Booth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Doris Booth An Authorlink interview with Farah Ahmedi, one of three finalists for The Story of My Life A project of ABC-TV and Simon & Schuster. Doris Booth April 2005 More finalist interviews coming soon. Story finalist Farah Ahmedi's childhood in Afghanistan was filled with horror and sadness.