MAKING A DIFFERENCE
When All Hope Seems Lost Muslims helping Muslims achieve their higher education goals — interest free! BY MONA ADHAMI
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As-salamu alaikum,” I gently called out as I closed the front door behind me. “Wa alaikum as-salam,” distant voices responded. Taking off my shoes and hanging up my coat, I headed down the corridor. My parents looked up as I walked into the kitchen. “How was work, Ibrahim?” my mother asked as she prepped the table for dinner. I could smell the redolent aroma of chicken emanating from the oven. “Long and tiring,” I responded, putting my keys on the counter and looking through the mail that lay neatly piled in the corner. “I’m ready for winter break.” “Winter break? We haven’t even reached Thanksgiving break yet!” my father chuckled as he patted me on the shoulder. Beep beep beep. The timer announced that dinner was ready. My mother gingerly
took out a large dish of chicken, potatoes and vegetables from the oven and set it on the hot plate. She beckoned me to the dinner table. “Come. Eat. You must be hungry. I made you your favorite. Great for this fall weather!” “I’ll eat later. I’m just really exhausted right now,” I said wearily, shaking my head. “Besides, I have to submit my scholarship application that’s due tonight. I’ll come down later tonight.” As footsteps took me upstairs to my room, I heard the muffled whispers of my parents. “We barely see him anymore … he’s working too much … he just comes and goes … like he’s a renter.” I hated to admit it, but they were right. I felt the same way. Working two jobs and juggling five classes was not an easy task. I couldn’t help but feel I was stretched too thin, like I was taking on more than I could handle. A disorganized desk of textbooks and notebooks welcomed me into my room.
38 ISLAMIC HORIZONS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
I kept digging until I finally found my planner, which lay buried under copious papers and binders. Looking at today’s date, I saw large text highlighted in neon yellow: SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE. I had taken it upon myself to actively seek any scholarships that I had an even remote chance of winning. Since the beginning of the year, I had applied for dozens upon dozens of scholarships — sadly, I didn’t win any of them. With the hours I consistently poured into writing scholarship essays, I considered the initiative to be like my third job. But that’s the way it had to be, because I didn’t have much of a choice. With expensive tuition and a national loan system entrenched in interest, what other options did I have? I had made a commitment to eschew interest for the sake of God. I had made it this far, and I wasn’t about to give up now. Pulling my laptop toward me, I opened up my scholarship essay to proofread my
