Muslim Community Praying Fajr at Lakefill, circa 2021
Class of 2022 at Community Iftaar, circa 2022
Senior Reflections
The Class of 2022 Reflects on Their Time at Northwestern
By Fayza Manaa
Spring 2022 – As we welcome the warm weather, we prepare to say goodbye to our seniors. The community that McSA provides has gotten us through many sleepless nights studying, helped us ponder existential questions over our career paths, and blessed us with friendships that inshAllah will last a lifetime. But before they leave to begin their post-grad journeys, I wanted to ask a few of our seniors to reflect on their time at Northwestern. Here’s what they had to say. I started by asking about their favorite memories at NU. Weinberg seniors Nawar Alhaddad and Ayesha Lat reminisced on their freshman year Ramadan - the first they had spent away from home. They found community and solace in the daily group iftars and taraweeh prayers. Weinberg senior Shoaib Syed commented that his favorite memory was praying salat al-Fajr during his freshman year Ramadan, while Weinberg senior Huma Manjra enjoyed praying together with friends in the parks, and hammocking in the springtime near the lakes. Weinberg senior Fizzah Jaffer says A&O blowouts, such as the
Willow Smith concert, were especially memorable to her. She also says that being pre-med exposed her to new experiences and perspectives that she did not anticipate. McCormick senior Mohammed Issa recounted, “One of my favorites was when my friends and I… woke up early to catch sunrise on the lake…but the funny thing is, it was when they were doing construction on the lake. So then, we didn’t actually get to sit on the lake, and we ran into North beach and caught the last five minutes of sunrise. But other than that, it was really nice.” I then asked who had the most impact on them during their time at NU. Weinberg senior Leen Abdul Razzak said having a diverse group of close friends has been very meaningful to her. She explains, “I’ve been able to learn so much about other religions, because they’re from places I’ve never been, and they have different beliefs than I do, and so it’s been really an educational experience.” Shoaib says the person who’s had the most impact on him outside Northwestern is his little brother, who lives with autism and cerebral palsy. “Even though he has all these difficulties, he still has a smile on his face. Right? So that’s very inspirational for me,” he says. “It’s really a big driving force for a lot of the things I do. It’s the reason why I went into neuroscience, the reason why I want to go into medicine.” Shoaib also says McSA and alumn, Mujtaba and Madan, who encouraged him to go to events as a freshman, have had the biggest impact on him at NU. Huma, Nawar and Ayesha credited their friends, roommates and the Muslim community at NU. Mohammed Issa gave a shout out to Abdalla Badri as “legitimately one of the smartest people I’ve met here. He’s really passionate about everything he does.” Next, I asked the seniors about meaningful clubs that they have been a part of during their time at NU. Fizzah, Ayesha, and Huma highlighted their involvement with the Muslim Mental Health Initiative (MMHI). Ayesha spoke about how she has been working with them since she was a sophomore as a passion project. “We were just working towards making change where we saw it was needed, and it’s so nice to see how far we’ve come.” Huma spoke of her own experience with MMHI: “As a freshman…I wanted to join because of my experience going through medical leave and not having access to a therapist, or somebody that I could really relate to or feel comfortable with,” she said. “That has probably been the most defining part of being at Northwestern here – making sure that there’s a service that provides care for Muslim students and students with other identities.” Fizzah spoke about rejecting the idea of joining things just for prestige. “We have a weird extracurricular culture here,” she said. “And the clubs make it so exclusive – you have to apply, interview, and might not even get into a club. But I never liked that style, so I always tried to do things that I wanted to do, because I actually cared about them and actually had an interest in them. And these ended up being the most rewarding
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and fun ones for me.” Nawar, Leen and I were exec and founding members of the Middle East and North African (MENA) Student Association. When asked about its significance to her, Leen said, “I couldn’t find people who spoke the same language or were from the same place and it was hard. But knowing that there’s a place for other people like that now, that we made a difference at Northwestern, that’s something that I’ll forever be happy about.” Nawar says being exec for McSA and MENA has taught her a lot about bringing communities together, and also how to manage operations. “I think I was very fortunate to experience it and to continue experiencing it,” she says. “And it’s nice to hear people’s feedback about the events we hold. Both clubs are identity-based, which shows definitely take advantage of that. Because I don’t know how how much I value people having a place to be who they are.” often it is going to be that you’re gonna find so many smart and Finally, I asked them if they had advice for younger mem- caring people concentrated in such a small area ever again in bers of McSA. your life,” says Shoaib. “Be there for others as well. And help Mohammed Issa says it’s important to find a balance be- each other out, because it’s not easy going through four years tween school and a social life. “This is coming from the wrong here. We’re all trying to find a home away from home, so try to person, but try and go to more events…if I can go back and do be a part of that.” it over again I would definitely try and prioritize my social life “I don’t think a lot of people realize how rare it is to have a a bit more.” Muslim community as rich as ours in a college campus,” says Nawar also suggested trying to go to as many events as pos- Ayesha. “Everyone comes from pretty different backgrounds, sible. “The more I attended, the more I realized how much of with so many different perspectives, and there’s so much to an effect it had on me, and not just spiritually. Sometimes you learn from everyone. And it’s so beautiful to see people that just need people that keep you in check as a person in terms genuinely want to get closer to their religion and their spiriof Islamic values and not necessarily the religious aspects per tuality, not because it’s what their family does or because it’s se.” She also said to lean on the community you find: “Hang- what they’re used to, but they genuinely hold a curiosity for ing out with the sisters, especially in times of need…going to something bigger.” somewhere where you know you have a home has been really Huma emphasizes the importance of investing in your menimportant to me, and I would love for the underclassmen to tal, spiritual and physical health. “You’re human first before also have that.” you’re a student,” she says. “Be compassionate to yourself, find Some seniors advised to not a community that can support limit yourself in your friendthat can encourage you, “People are going to give you advice repeatedly, but listen you, ships. that lifts you up, but also chal“Don’t be afraid to not be to yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others – your path lenges you in a way that you around other Muslims or othdon’t stay stuck. You always is your own, trust your gut” er Arabs,” said Leen. “There’s want to grow in the best way value in being in your compossible. fort zone but there’s also value “The one thing that I can really emphasize,” continues in being outside of it, and this is an experience to meet new Huma, “is talk to the upperclassmen because we’re here to suppeople.” Fizzah adds, “I would tell younger people to avoid port you, we’ve been through all of it. We have so much advice cliques, avoid unnecessary drama and definitely try to find that we want to give you guys, and we want to set you up for your interests outside. And people are going to give you ad- success. So reach out through email, even after I graduate -- I’m vice repeatedly, but listen to yourself. Don’t compare yourself sure other seniors feel the same way. Reach out to us even after to others – your path is your own, trust your gut.” we graduate because we’d love to help. We’ve invested in this Other seniors said to take part in the Muslim community community. And so you guys can’t get rid of us.” here as much as possible. We will miss our graduating friends, but we know they are “There are so many people in McSA that have so many dif- off to do amazing things in the world, inshAllah. Goodbye to ferent experiences, and there are so many people who are will- the class of 2022, and good luck to everyone inshaAllah! ing to help you with anything that you could possibly need, so
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