*UPDATE* WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!
I want to thank everyone who took the time out and made an EFFORT to nominate someone special for this contest! Honestly, it was very very difficult to make the final decision and choose just one winner :( After careful consideration I narrowed it down to 2 nominations and could not decide on just one. so I thought WHY choose just one? :D yes, thats right, there are TWO winners for this giveaway!
So the first winner is SANNA and the second winner is AYUB KHAN!
The first winner, SANNA was nominated by her sister AMINA. I chose Sanna because I could relate to her in many ways. At one point in my life I, too,was dealing with self-esteem issues and wished a million times that someone could lift me up and take me out of that hole. I was very shy and kept to myself most of the time. I believe we all need that 'push' from someone as we go through our teenage years and try to find our own place in the world. Taking up photography was that 'push' for me. It gave a huge boost to my confidence and changed me inside out as a person. I'm still not quite there yet :) but read her story below to know why I selected Sanna as one of the winners:
SANNA
"I just saw this giveaway and i got so excited because i would like to nominate my sister, Sanna. I feel she deserves this so much because she is such a beautiful person inside and out but sometimes she doesnt feel that beautiful. I know this will higher her self-esteem and make her feel very important. Her skin does have alittle acne and she feels insecure about her nose and we all tell her she is beautiful but sometimes you need that speacial push or change in life. When she was younger she was always skinny and shy so noone outside paid much attention to her it was always me or my brothers, and now having a daughter and being a mother i feel even more emotional. She is already interested in makeup and wants to become a makeup artistt so i know she can learn a few tricks fromRabia. I had such beautiful wedding/walima pictures and i want Sanna to also feel the way i did that day. At times when the whole world seems against you, you have that special person who is always there and in my case its my sister. I havent been able to ever give her the best birthday or Eid gift and if she wins this giveaway i know it would mean the world to her and she would love me more :) She works hard in college and home so it would be a great change in her teen life that she would always remember :) My family and me respect you alot and you did alot for me even being a stranger you made me always feel like you were a sister, so thanks for that and i know you have two sisters and without them we are incomplete so please do consider my sister and give us a chance again to work with you!"
The other winner, Ayub Khan, was nominated by his lovely wife Uswah Khan. I have tremendous respect for people who follow their dreams and don't give up no matter how many obstacles come their way. I don't know what else to say :) read on to know why I chose him as a winner :)
AYUB KHAN
"I'm nominating my husband. Not because hes my husband, but because hes the most hardworking, dedicated, caring individual Ive seen. He never complains, theres always smile on his face and hes ready to tackle all of lifes hurdles no matter how difficult. Out of everyone I know, hes most deserving in my eyes. He decided when he was young that he wanted to be a doctor. Now, after completing medical school, after having passed his board exams, he has had some unsuccessful attempts at obtaining residency. He doesnt give up though. Two years ago, he went on a countrywide quest to look for a research position, after receiving no replies to his numerous emails and letters to directors searching for research. He went door to door, in person and met with residency directors from Connecticut to New York, New Jersey to Pennsylvania, and finally he found an open door in Ohio. He had to be away from his children who he adores, and dedicated himself to clinical research with patients who suffer from diabetes, cholesterol, and women with PCOS. Besides getting well wishes from the patients he sees, and God Bless yous, his hard work has paid off physically. One of the studies he worked on was published in the American Journal of Cardiology (not an easy task to accomplish ask any doctor who would tell you how selective the American Journal of Cardiology is), and he was a recipient of the Travel Trainee Award for one of his abstracts presented to the Central Society for Clinical Research American and Federation for Medical Research (CSCR & MW AFMR). At their meeting in Chicago of 2010, 4 of his abstracts were selected for presentation. Not only has he been doing research, he is taking classes at the University of Cincinnati for their clinical and translational research program. I am so proud of him for continuing to make a difference to field of medicine. He is still waiting to hear back from hospitals to see if he has been accepted into a residency program, so he can be licensed, but while he waits, he doesnt waste a minute of his time. He helps random strangers on the street; he helped a man and his family whose car was stuck in the snow. Hes a surrogate father so to say to a child with bi-polar disorder and cystic fibrosis whos seen 17 different foster families in his 14 years of life. Anytime people call for advice on medications, he takes out his time to speak with them, and give them guidance to better their health. He either makes renovations to his house, (recently he helped his brother during his house renovation), and he will be going back from break to his research. As a hobby, he loves to take photographs, and always has us pose in remarkable ways to make sure our best pictures come. Unfortunately, I cant reciprocate his picture taking skill. However, I know that a photo shoot focusing only on him, getting his pictures professionally taken will be a way to say thank you and I appreciate all that you do. And not just a thank you from me, but from the community as a whole who hes always ready to assist and give back to. He may not be your traditional candidate, but I bet a secret desire of his would to be a male model, and while he may have been married 14 years ago, he can pose as a newlywed groom anytime! 14 years ago, when we were married, our parents were both immigrants, and our weddings were amongst the first of both families. We didnt know about the concept of hiring a photographer to take wedding photos. Our wedding pictures are a conglomeration of friends and family taking shots here and there. So yes, it would not only be a great gift to him to have him pose on his own, but would be a nice belated anniversary gift to finally have professional photographs taken."
Congratulations to you both! It is an honor for us to get a chance to take your pictures which you will cherish for life!
Once again, many thanks to everyone who entered this contest. We are planning another wonderful giveaway :) the details will be revealed next month so check back soon!
