Muslim Student Reflection Paper

Researcher Perspective for Muslim Students
My researcher perspective in this study of Muslim identified students is to understand Muslim identities on campus more and get another Muslim student perspective other than my own. Being raised Muslim all my life has provided an understanding of what Muslims have to go through on daily basis. In elementary, I began seeking more information about my Muslim identity and what does it mean to be Muslim in the United States of America. Coming from Somalia, my religion identity or Muslim identity was not salient until I arrived in Atlanta, Georgia.
I was born and raised in the Islamic faith. My parents and the rest of my family are all Muslim, from experience Somalia is predominately Islamic country. My …show more content…
I went through what I call religion depression, meaning I was not getting enough support or my salient identity was not being affirmed in this new land. There were some days where I did not like being Muslim and could find my insider peace or my balance in life was thrown off. I was always an afraid or a shame to practice the Muslim faith because none of my friends I identify as Muslim. There was nowhere safe to pray five times a day in school and some of the teachers did not like the fact I was fasting during Ramadan out of my own choice. I remember in fifth-grade my teacher called my mother a terrible parent because I decided to fast during Ramadan on my own. My teacher wanted to call Child Services on my mother and acclaimed that I was being neglected. Looking back, my fifth grade teacher had my best intention but went the wrong about the whole situation. Neither did she knew a lot about the Islamic faith nor did she wanted to hear us out. My mother did not like Georgia mostly due to many gang members and low high school graduation rate. She wanted a better life for all her children and decided to move the family to Washington State and where I started middle