Assalamu alaikum, world.

It means peace be upon you all.

My name is Ammar.

This is my first ever note.

I was born in Melbourne, Australia, at 2:20 AM at the Royal Women’s Hospital. A tiny human, arriving into a big world, with a lot of people waiting for me.

My grandparents were anxiously waiting. My family was waiting. My parents were waiting. And somewhere in the middle of all that waiting, I was getting ready for my grand entrance.

It was not an easy one.

My mum went through 22 hours of labor. I went through big contractions, big changes, and a big fight to arrive here. But thanks to my mum’s strength, my dad’s prayers, and the incredible people at the Royal Women’s Hospital, I came out safe and sound.

I came to life in Room 17.

That mattered too.

Seven is my mum’s favorite number. So even the room had a little sign from her.

I was born weighing 3.14 kilograms.

Yes, 3.14.

Pi.

A very important number, especially for a baby whose dad loves math, technology, and finding meaning in tiny details.

Pi is the number that helps humans understand circles. It has been studied for thousands of years, from ancient civilizations to modern computers.

And in my little story, there is a circle too.

My mum lost her dad when she was 15. I will never met him, but somehow, I arrived carrying a little echo of him.

I carry his name as my middle name, Noor.

Noor means light.

And in my own tiny way, I am here to light up my mum’s life with love.

So maybe Pi was not just about numbers and circles.

Maybe it was about life coming full circle.

I am my mum’s firstborn, and I share the same birthday as my grandpa’s firstborn, my uncle.

My dad’s favorite number is 3.

He also likes thinking two steps ahead, so 5 is his stretch favorite number. And somehow, my first numbers already carried both of them.

I was 53 centimeters long.

My head circumference was 35 centimeters.

I was born on 13.5.

Firstborn, three and five, already showing up at the start of my story.

So maybe that is fitting.

Because my story is just beginning.

I was born to two parents of Bangladeshi origin. I could have been born in Canada, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, or somewhere else entirely. But the universe had Melbourne written into my story.

So here I am.

A Bangladeshi-origin baby, born in Australia, loved by family across many corners of the world, from Canada to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, China, France, and here in Australia.

I arrived as a Taurus baby, just like my dad.

Apparently, Tauruses are known for being steady, stubborn, loyal, and determined. That sounds about right. I did take 22 hours to arrive, after all.

I am also a Generation Beta baby.

A baby born into a world of artificial intelligence, robots, space dreams, climate questions, and technologies my parents are still trying to understand before I outgrow them.

I do not have many words yet. Mostly, I cry, sleep, feed, and make little sounds that everyone seems very excited about.

But somewhere inside me, my inner thoughts are beginning.

Tiny thoughts, quiet thoughts, milk-seeking thoughts, curious thoughts.

One day, those thoughts will become words. I will have questions. I will explore the world with my mum and dad.

And this will be the place where I share what I am learning, noticing, wondering, and becoming.

For now, this is enough.

Hello, world.

My name is Ammar Noor Kamal.

I am here.