Recently, the feeling I have always had that I was different in some way was confirmed with an autism diagnosis. I’ve always been too upfront, I can’t sugarcoat things, and I can’t keep my mouth shut if something unfair is happening. In the days after my diagnosis, as I directed my energy towards finding everything out about autism, I learned these are common traits for people on the spectrum.
Two things happened after that. First, all the pieces of my life suddenly fit together. It was like finally finding out what picture the pieces of a puzzle make. It explained why even in the community where I was born in Cairo, Egypt, I never felt like I belonged; some even told me that to my face as I was growing up. It explained why I carried that yearning for belonging with me through my time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, and the U.S. — and why the concept of home has eluded me my entire life.
The second thing that happened was an immediate sigh of relief because now I could stop trying so hard to be “normal.” I didn’t realize how trying to fit in took up so much energy and space in my brain. Now I could just be different and explain it as neurodivergence, which has recently come into fashion, as depicted in popular TV shows like “The Good Doctor” or “Extraordinary Attorney Woo.”
At the same time as I was learning all this about myself, I was selected as this year’s Editing Fellow for Feet in 2 Worlds. The fellowship came at a time when I was considering leaving audio journalism because the uncertainty of the industry was taking a toll on my mental health. I have been a freelance producer for five years and I have been lucky to work for NPR, MSNBC, SiriusXM, Wondery, and several public radio outlets. I also love working with independents to launch new shows! But during these five years, I’ve been trying to secure a full-time position, which has become increasingly rare in podcasting and in journalism.
My diagnosis affirms to me that to do my best work, I need to be in control of my time and environment. I need remote opportunities, meaning I might need to consider a different field altogether, as remote work is harder to come by. And beyond media, other industries have also eschewed stable full-time jobs in favor of freelancers and independent contractors. All this economic uncertainty has caused me to reexamine not only my relationship to work and my career, but also that of other immigrants. How are other immigrants throughout the U.S. thinking about their own relationship to work in our changing economy?
This season on The Hustle, I want to hear how immigrants are navigating the advent of A.I. and automation and the spread of the gig economy. How did immigrants face periods of economic change throughout history? How are immigrants innovating and creating their own opportunities? How are working-class immigrants building power? How are wealthy immigrants conducting business? And considering how much time we spend at work, I’m curious about those who are finding joy despite all these challenges.
Throughout my career, I have focused on stories for and by marginalized populations like Seizing Freedom, a show that uses firsthand accounts of African Americans to tell the story of Emancipation up till the civil rights era. This year, as the Fi2W Editing Fellow, I am excited to work with reporters and producers to tell nuanced stories that shed a light on immigrant workers from the bottom to the top of the economic ladder, coming from all parts of the country and including workers of all abilities.
As I rethink my relationship to work, I am excited to learn from my incredible mentors and grow my editorial skills in service of telling better stories. Most of all, I look forward to being surprised and having my assumptions challenged by the lesser known stories that reporters might pitch!
Feet in 2 Worlds is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Ford Foundation, the Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation, an anonymous donor, and contributors to our annual NewsMatch campaign.
