89 INTERVIEW womanthismonth.com | FEBRUARY 2026 Quiet Beginnings Jana’s book did not begin as a public ambition. Its earliest form lived in the pages of a notebook given to her by a close friend, a space that quickly became personal and unguarded. “She asked me to make it something special, and I really did,” Jana recalls. That notebook became a place where she wrote through difficult days and personal uncertainty, often returning to faith as a source of grounding. Faith and Writing Over time, writing shifted from release to reassurance, becoming something steadier and more reflective. “It became a reminder that bad days, no matter how long they last, always pass,” she shares. The decision to share her words came unexpectedly. After posting a short passage online, the response reframed how she understood her writing’s purpose. “I realised sharing my words might calm someone else the way they have always calmed me,” she notes. Faith runs gently through Laisa Laka Onwan, shaped by patience and hindsight rather than certainty. Jana traces this tone back to a moment that stayed with her after encountering a video of a sheikh speaking about how hardship fades with time. “If you look back, you’ll realise there were many bad days you thought would never end,” she remarks. “Today, you don’t even remember them.” That idea shaped her process, encouraging her to write both within difficulty and beyond it. “I started writing about difficult situations while I’m going through them,” she divulges. “I return to them after I’ve moved past them.” The Power of Stillness This approach allows emotion to be captured honestly, while still leaving room for perspective. Her writing remains intentionally quiet, a deliberate contrast to the noise of daily life. “I see stillness as more than just a pause,” Jana stresses. “It’s a way to connect deeply with our thoughts and emotions in a world that rarely slows down.” For young women especially, choosing stillness can feel countercultural. Jana views it as an act of self-definition rather than withdrawal. “Choosing stillness through writing or reflection becomes a quiet rebellion,” she observes. Rooted in Bahrain Bahrain plays an essential role in shaping that sense of grounding. Jana speaks of the country not simply as a setting, but as an emotional environment that has informed her voice. “This interview itself reflects Bahrain’s role in my journey,” she emphasises. “The way Bahrain has appreciated my work and my effort has meant more to me than words can explain.” That appreciation stems from a very personal place. In the book, she reflects on her father and the way former students continued to speak of him with warmth years later. “Those moments, that kindness, that sense of belonging, this is Bahrain to me,” she adds. “It’s not just a place. It has shaped how I write and how I see the world.” Navigating Transparency Publishing at 18 required a careful balance between vulnerability and confidence, particularly as a young woman sharing personal reflections publicly. Jana approaches that balance with intention. “I treat my personal experiences as data for a larger human truth,” she explains. Vulnerability, she believes, must come from honesty rather than performance, asking herself, “Is this real, or am I just trying to look good?” Confidence, meanwhile, is rooted in discipline. “I edit my thoughts until they’re no longer just my diary,” she shares. “They become something shaped and complete.” Literary influence has also shaped her voice, with Jana openly acknowledging the impact of Arabic writer Adham Sharqawi and his emotionally direct style. When readers express uncertainty about whether they will connect with her writing, she offers a simple point of reference, asking, “Do you like reading Adham Sharqawi?” Publishing the book has reshaped how Jana understands herself, both creatively and personally. “It showed me that my messy, private thoughts could matter to someone else,” she reflects. Visibility, once intimidating, became affirming. “I used to think that being seen would make me feel judged,” she admits. “Instead, it made me feel strong.” Seeing her parents proud mattered deeply, but the wider response carried its own emotional weight. “Seeing my country proud of me took me to another level emotionally,” she affirms. “It gave me confidence I didn’t know I had.” For young girls in Bahrain drawn to writing but hesitant to begin, her advice remains direct and grounded. “Your voice already matters,” Jana offers. “Don’t wait until you feel ready or perfect. Start now and trust yourself.”
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