Uncategorized

Samea Shanori: The Power of Education Samea’s story articulates her life-long pursuit of knowledge, and how family history influences her own journey in life.   When I was in third grade living in Pakistan with my family, my father passed away. He worked with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Islamabad, Pakistan, and was the […]

Amir Badr: The Ultimate Underdog Amir discusses the struggles that he had to go through during his journey of leaving Tehran for a more free and uplifting state of mind and country.    I was born in Tehran, Iran, which is where my journey started. There are a bunch of things that if I close

Life. The meaning of this word differs among people. Regardless of who you ask, you’ll get different answers almost every time. And yet, everyone knows how important the term itself is. Some of us get to know the significance of this word, of life, at an early age. Others aren’t so fortunate, but I was.

Hikmah Okoya: Wisdom Hikma describes her journey to self-acceptance and empowerment as a Black Muslim woman in the U.S.     Black (\blak\) Adjective : The opposite of white. A pigmentation color too dark to be considered beautiful. The color of bark after it has been burned by fire. The color people here in America where

Samar Haider: The Maxim I Chose to Live By Samar describes her passion for healthcare, and discusses the obstacles and opportunities that have guided her desire to help people.  His voice was barely audible through the Skype online phone call, but I could easily tell he was weaker than before. I asked my uncle how

Sawera Choudary: At the Edge of Dawn “Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself.”                      -Henry David Thoreau. I am a morning person. Something about the dark sky before the break of

Fanta N’Diasseny: A Girl With a Dream Fanta immigrated to the United States at the age of eight.  Her story outlines her triumphs, and her dedication to education as a cherished American value. Life isn’t about finding yourself or figuring out what separates you from everyone else, it’s about all the different challenges and obstacles

Subhana Ahmed: Hungry Subhana reflects on her struggles with body image, and describes how she forged her own path to self-discipline, confidence, and good health.      Ten more minutes until sunset. The lingering aroma of the crispy naan bread and chicken curry encompassed the air. The clock finally struck eight o’clock and the adhan

Yasmin Aden: I Am the Poem In her story, Yasmin recalls stories of her childhood as a refugee and reflects on the importance of poetry, family, and home in developing one’s identity.   I am the poem my mother wrote to the future. Folded between time and space, I am a collection of words that house

Rewan Abdelwahab: The Creature Rewan discusses her journey from fear, to pride, to activism as a Muslim woman.  Her story illustrates the power of bravery and persistence in the face of fear and terror.   Temporarily paralyzed, I stared into the creature’s feral eyes and feared for my life. My body trembled as it approached me