Hi :)

I’m Nadeen Al-Barqawi, a Middle Eastern writer and poet. This is me at 5 years old sitting on the most Arab couch of all time in Zarqa, Jordan. At the time, I thought I was going to grow up to be a doctor. Oops.

After moving to the U.S. (Philly!) in elementary school, one of my teachers told me I would never learn English fluently. In true Arab fashion, I took that so personally that I decided to make a career out of it. First, as a published poet who toured the country at institutions like Vassar, UPenn, and Harvard—and ranked in the top five poets worldwide. Now, as a copywriter, where I intend to use my voice to break barriers and create work that’s impossible for people like my elementary school teacher to ignore.

I spend my time now watching A LOT of sports (GO BIRDS!!), listening to every new album that drops, reading way too much Vogue, buying the purses I see in Vogue, painting, embroidering, cooking, etc. Point is…I love being busy. The only busy I don’t like is that couch. Don’t worry, they (I) got rid of it.