“My family is from Jordan and we moved here from New York five years ago. My father came for business because he wanted a change of life. I stayed in Jordan for five years with my grandmother and came here by myself when I was 17. I have my own business and do alterations and slip covers and I like to have happy customers. I want to by a psychologist and help people. I would like to go back to New York because it is hard to be a Muslim woman here. People usually don’t do anything directly to me, but I can still feel it. They look and sometimes I get cursed. Sometimes people ask me questions and that is so much better than just judging. Don’t judge me by what is on top of my head, judge me by what is inside of my head. It is hard being different, I am the only one covered here. I was a strong person and this is making me even stronger and can handle anything in life. High school students here have never been out of Fairhope and they ask me funny questions like do you pin yourself when you pin your scarf? I don’t.

People call it radical Islam. It is not. They are taking the bad side and twisting it. Islam means peace be upon you. That means don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t lie, just like the other religions. We are getting blamed for what a small group of people are doing and the real Koran has nothing to do with that. We share a lot of the same values with Christianity. Women are starting to speak out because they can’t handle it anymore. Queen Rania in Jordan is popular and gives us strength. Saudi Arabia is the most closed to women. They can’t drive or have their own business or go to the mall without a man. I can’t imagine living like that. Things are changing and women are realizing it is the 21st century and it can’t stay that way.

I am proud of holding to my religion. Sometimes I think I have had enough, I want to take the hijab off and see what it is like for one day without it, but I haven’t done it yet. I try different styles, but people still look. I cry sometimes. I am getting a good education, I work hard and I am a good girl. I am not doing anything to be ashamed of. There are also people who help and support me and their encouragement boosts me in my down days. I have good teachers in school and they advise me to be myself. Don’t change just because I am are here and people don’t accept me. One day they will understand who I am. If I can help people understand Islam a little more then I am doing something good.”