Living in America as a Muslim American is not as difficult as some people might think, but also is not as easy as others may believe. Because I wear a hijab, a scarf that covers my head, I can easily be identified and classified as well; towelhead, terrorist, I have heard it all. You would think that in a place where education is so universal and focused-on, students should be very open-minded and not judge those who believe to follow the religion of their choice. Wrong. I, unfortunately, have had multiple encounters where a peer has judged me because of my choice to express my religion (Islam).

While walking in the hallway and minding my own business, a young woman who was trying to understand my appearance stopped me. “Why are you wearing that?” she asked in a rude manner. But me being the innocent girl I am did not take this in a rude way. “My scarf? I wear it because my religion commands me to, in order to be modest.” I still did not understand that this whole conversation was supposed to be a joke. “Oh, well it looks nice,” she said while quietly snickering and winking at her friend. Later on that day, one of my classmates mentioned that a girl was laughing at my outfit and how I “looked like a nun”. I wondered, “Since when are nuns so fashionable?” He also told me that he, in my defense, stopped her and told her how rude she was being.

Even though we may live in a world where discrimination and prejudice is second nature to some, we also live in a world with humane individuals who do not judge your (often religious) decision to cover. This is an example that should trigger you to stand up to those who choose to discriminate against minorities of any kind.

I encourage you to do this in a manner that displays your knowledge and humanity. We can change the world and make it a better place, but the change starts in one place. You.