The first day of high school was like stepping into an alternate universe. My previous school – Iftin Charter School – was homogeneous in its composition of Muslim, Somali and first-generation students. There, I fit flush with the student population. It was a larger, more hectic, version of my own home. At Crawford High School, I was in the minority. There were individuals who identified similarly to me, it just did not have the same feeling.
It was an entirely foreign experience to try to find a welcoming space to celebrate my identity, in all of its glory, at my new high school. As a solution, various teachers suggested I join clubs I could identify with. So, I went in search for a Muslim Club, as my religion is truly the fabric of my entire being. I label myself as a “Muslimah,” a practicing Muslim woman. Before I am Somali, before I am Black, before I am a Woman, before I am a Student; I am Muslim, first and foremost. So, when I discovered no club existed where I could celebrate the essence of my character, I was disappointed in my school for failing to create a safe space for me and those like me.
Making a promise to myself, I vowed to fight for the creation of a Muslim Student Association (MSA) at Crawford High School. MSA is the nationally recognized Muslim Student Association that exist across elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and even at the university level. This organization exists to embrace Muslim students in a comfortable environment where they can express their identity and share their stories.
When my friends and I first approached our principal with this idea, he told us our campus prohibits the existence of religious-affiliated clubs. After further digging, we discovered there was a Bible Club on our campus. Christian students are allowed a space to celebrate their religion, but Muslim students like myself are not afforded this same opportunity? A moment of recognition gave way to serenity. This was an opportunity, not a barrier.
With the help of Ms. Mahdi, a Muslim, African American teacher, and my guidance counselor Mr. Dadmun, my peers and I were able to create our own MSA. This club, being the first of its kind, gave way to a space of inclusivity on our campus; a place where we would be spending the majority of our time for the next four years. The club is hosted every Tuesday in Mrs. Mahdi’s room, because she is our teacher, advisor and advocate, but it is also open during lunch and after school every day to students who simply want to come and relax.
Room 903 which houses Crawford High School’s student lead Muslim Student Association (MSA) is my safe space, created by me.