Building Community After Quarantine

When my first year of high school started in quarantine, I didn’t really see it as a good omen. However, over the past three years, my high school experience has been a series of unexpected yet rewarding moments one after the other. Socially, religiously, and emotionally, school has influenced every aspect of my life and aided in my journey of self growth.

In my sophomore year of high school, my classmate brought up a club idea with me and it struck a chord with me. It mirrored my personal beliefs and made me believe I could make a difference at my school. Irvington’s first feminist club, IHS Fem, was the primary catalyst in my newfound dedication to help the community. From there, I joined a variety of clubs that I felt I could benefit from and vice versa. I connected with a diverse range of people and made friends with people who I wouldn’t have even talked to otherwise. 

One of the clubs that has had a big influence on me is MSA. The Muslim Student Association is a club that has helped me embrace my identity at school. Meeting so many like minded people who are all striving to be more community oriented and better Muslims has changed me for the better. I can pray knowing there are people praying with me. During Ramadan, I know there are others fasting with me. I can talk to other hijabis about different hijab styles. I know that I have a connection with these peers.

Every single person I’ve met at school has changed me in a different way and taught me something. I’ve made connections with teachers and taken unconventional classes. I’ve played Star Wars games in history and sobbed reading books in English. I’ve done yoga in science and found out I was good at badminton in P.E. Some of my favorite memories have been eating lunch with my friends at school. For all my complaints about homework and tests, I know I am lucky that I can go to a school where I can learn and grow, not just academically, but as a person.