All That I Am

I wear a hijab (The traditional cloth muslim women wear on their head). I try to carry myself modestly, and if anyone asks me anything about my religion or the Middle East, I am more than happy to voice my opinion and talk to them about it.

I am aware that living in the United States puts me in a position of inquiry. I am aware that I represent my country and my religion whether I like it or not, and I am aware that I need to be conscious of my actions at all times to ensure always presenting a good image to those who do not know much about who I am.

This is all great, but it doesn't define me.

I have noticed that often times, people here have put me in a certain category based on what I look like. I am Muslim and I care about the environment, I am Muslim and I care about the homeless people in Richmond. I am Muslim and I am all about matching my scarves to my outfits. I am Muslim and I love listening to music, and looking at art, I love to dance, I can talk to anyone and I have a huge passion for learning about new cultures.

There is more to me than what you see. I care about more than what is happening in Palestine, Egypt and Syria.

while my cultural background is quite rich and has benefitted me in many ways like teaching me Arabic in almost all its forms and dialects , it has not hindered me from exploring new cultures and experiencing new ways of doing things. Because while we do come with a sort of package built from what we are taught and the things we are surrounded by at an early age, we as humans are given the mental and emotional capacity to explore at our own convenience and using our own judgement. Where a person is from is significant, but it definitely does not define him or her or what he or she will become.

Using the amazing powers of our thinking and our experiences, the possibilities are endless.