Durr
“It’s important for me to be confident in my decisions and capabilities, go after what matters to me, and know that I have what it takes to succeed.”
Durr is determined to find a solution to a problem when she sees one, especially when it entails giving back to her community. She's a recent science graduate with interests in women's and children's empowerment. Durr’s nonprofit organisation, the Good Day Charitable Society, is dedicated to assisting people who are socially marginalised in Vancouver's Lower Mainland (Canada). She accomplishes this by making and delivering basic necessity bundles with the purpose of ensuring that everyone's fundamental requirements are addressed - "including having a good day.” Durr is an advocate for public health who, when she isn't assisting others through her philanthropic activities, is creating positive change in her role as a COVID-19 researcher. Meet Durr. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself.
D: Hi! I’m Durr Al-Hakim. I’m 22 years old and I’m the Founder of the Good Day Charitable Society. I’ve recently graduated from University of British Columbia with a B.Sc. in Biology and I’m currently working in COVID-19-related research.
Example of Good Day Charitable Society bundle
I’m based in Vancouver BC, and I spend most of my time on the things that matter most to me–working with women and children, working in the healthcare field, and training in CrossFit!
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
D: I’d describe myself as full-of-heart– both toward others and myself. It’s what built my character, values, and resilience. It’s also how I know I can always get out of a dark place and trust myself to make any goal a reality, even if it takes time.
Being a Muslim Iraqi woman, I also love connecting with and empowering other women and children. This is what inspires and motivates me through everything that I do, from volunteerism to starting a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals facing social marginalization in my city.
And although my pre-pandemic self would disagree, I’ve also become a HUGE morning person. There’s nothing that fills up my (coffee) cup more. My early morning workouts and coffee walks keep me anchored throughout the week, and so I keep them a priority.
P: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
D: I’d say my favourite thing about myself is my confidence– or as my mom used to call it, ‘quiet confidence’.
One of my favourite quotes is by Van Gogh, and it goes: “If you hear a voice within you say, ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced”.
This mindset gets me through all failures, barriers, or self-doubt that I’m met with. I have a vision and a standard that I’ve set for myself, and I work really hard on this every day. It’s important for me to be confident in my decisions and capabilities, go after what matters to me, and know that I have what it takes to succeed. This was definitely a long work-in-progress and I still fall short sometimes, but being intentional about how I invest my energy, heart, and time has helped me a lot.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
D: If I’m being honest, I could probably write a 50-page list on advice that my younger self needed to hear, coupled with the longest hug possible. But if I had to choose a single one, I’d tell myself to learn when to say ‘no’ without hesitation.
I’ve always been an anxious and certified over-thinker, which made me a certified people pleaser. Great combo if you ask me. So, I’d tell myself to put those fears and doubts to rest, and to say ‘no’ to anything that doesn’t serve me. I will not regret it, and in turn, it will make my choices that much more powerful. It would make me that much more powerful.
This applies to every area of my life, and I remind myself of this every day.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say if they were here now?
D: So many incredible women are running through my head right now, but honestly, I’d have to say Kelly Stone. She’s a CrossFit athlete and full-time pediatric physical therapist, and she inspires me! Self-directed, self-motivated, and confident. She’s open about her priorities and what she invests her jam-packed time into– from academics and physical therapy, to nutrition and sleep. Over the two years of following her, she has helped me to change the way I view myself and my own priorities. I’ve implemented many habits and set several boundaries, and I try to show up for myself every day. I make the time for what matters most to me, which has helped me feel a bit more fulfilled in my place in life right now. Her confidence is also contagious!
If I was able to chat with Kelly, I’d tell her exactly just that! Though she’s a great athlete and brilliant woman, I’d love for her to know that she has left a mark far beyond sports. I’ll never give up the habits I’ve built with her help.
Also, her hair. Ridiculous. Unfair.