I am Assyrian, a descendant of the Assyrian-Babylonian empires of Mesopotamia, the cradle of Western civilisation. Ancient Assyrians had more than military might; they were innovators and made important inventions we still use today. Assyria has not existed as a country since our empire fell almost 7,000 years ago, but our nation, language, culture, and traditions have survived. Today, the global diaspora of Assyrians and the religious and ethnic persecutions in the Middle East pose the gravest of challenges to our nation. I will talk about how I learned about my Assyrian heritage and how it informs my identity. I will also talk about the challenges we face and what we must do to preserve our nation. Sabrina is a student at Francis Holland School, Sloane Square. She plans on studying languages and the interaction of cultures, and has a profound interest in Sports Psychology. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx