sweetchick
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I just graduated from high school and i was chosen in my school to read a speech about the hijab in islam and wht it means to live life wearing it and going to school to be the only girl in a school to wear hijab
So here it is please read and tell me wht you think about it thank u
As I stand here this evening what is the first thing you would notice about me? For most of you I believe the answer would be my scarf, my hijab. In my Islamic faith the hijab is a symbol of respect and pride. I first arrived in America when I was six years old. My family had been forced to leave our native Iraq because of the regime of saddam Hussein. I started the first grade not knowing English or having any friends, the only thing I could depend on was my family. Here I am twelve years later giving a speech to the class of 2005. There are over 400 graduating seniors here tonight and each one of us has a story, our own odyssey to reach this point. Do you realize how much we have been through? How far we’ve come in the last four years at Kamiak High School.
For me it was always difficult growing up in a country so different than my native land, and attending schools where no one practiced my religion. Just like you, I love my homeland, I love my people, and I love my religion. In my newly adopted America, however, it has sometimes been difficult to celebrate my faith and heritage. When you are the only person in school wearing Hijab, or the only one practicing Ramadan where you fast from sunset to sundown, there’s little support or understanding outside of family. In High school students often stared at me and no doubt wondered, but few ever came up and asked why I dressed as I did or chose to follow Islam. Still I have completed my four years of high School with pride. Now when I someday return to Iraq I can say I did it, I finished my High School education.
Living in America gives one great opportunity. We have the right to learn, the right to speak up, we have the right to share our thoughts. This is not the case in many parts of the world today. We have these rights so why not take advantage and do something good with them? Here in the United States we have avenues available to us to pursue our dreams. We also have responsibility and that is to be citizens to the world. No nation is as powerful as America, and with that comes the enormous duty to exercise just and thoughtful influences with our might. I do not have to continue to wear my hijab here in America. I have the right to take it off at any time without consequence. But I have chosen to wear it as a reflection of my deep faith in Islam. And as a demonstration of pride in my Iraqi heritage. Each one of you also has the right to make choices that will define yourself and chart your future course.
I am very pleased to share part of my story with you tonight. We members of the class of 2005 can pick up our diplomas tonight knowing we are part of a class with many personalities and stories, but one common alma mater. We should celebrate both those differences and similarities. Finally remember what Dr. Seuss once said about those who might question your dreams or place obstacles in your pathway, “Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind, don’t matter, and those who matter, don’t mind.” Thank you ladies and gentlemen and class of 2005 for giving me this opportunity to speak to you on this special night.
So here it is please read and tell me wht you think about it thank u
As I stand here this evening what is the first thing you would notice about me? For most of you I believe the answer would be my scarf, my hijab. In my Islamic faith the hijab is a symbol of respect and pride. I first arrived in America when I was six years old. My family had been forced to leave our native Iraq because of the regime of saddam Hussein. I started the first grade not knowing English or having any friends, the only thing I could depend on was my family. Here I am twelve years later giving a speech to the class of 2005. There are over 400 graduating seniors here tonight and each one of us has a story, our own odyssey to reach this point. Do you realize how much we have been through? How far we’ve come in the last four years at Kamiak High School.
For me it was always difficult growing up in a country so different than my native land, and attending schools where no one practiced my religion. Just like you, I love my homeland, I love my people, and I love my religion. In my newly adopted America, however, it has sometimes been difficult to celebrate my faith and heritage. When you are the only person in school wearing Hijab, or the only one practicing Ramadan where you fast from sunset to sundown, there’s little support or understanding outside of family. In High school students often stared at me and no doubt wondered, but few ever came up and asked why I dressed as I did or chose to follow Islam. Still I have completed my four years of high School with pride. Now when I someday return to Iraq I can say I did it, I finished my High School education.
Living in America gives one great opportunity. We have the right to learn, the right to speak up, we have the right to share our thoughts. This is not the case in many parts of the world today. We have these rights so why not take advantage and do something good with them? Here in the United States we have avenues available to us to pursue our dreams. We also have responsibility and that is to be citizens to the world. No nation is as powerful as America, and with that comes the enormous duty to exercise just and thoughtful influences with our might. I do not have to continue to wear my hijab here in America. I have the right to take it off at any time without consequence. But I have chosen to wear it as a reflection of my deep faith in Islam. And as a demonstration of pride in my Iraqi heritage. Each one of you also has the right to make choices that will define yourself and chart your future course.
I am very pleased to share part of my story with you tonight. We members of the class of 2005 can pick up our diplomas tonight knowing we are part of a class with many personalities and stories, but one common alma mater. We should celebrate both those differences and similarities. Finally remember what Dr. Seuss once said about those who might question your dreams or place obstacles in your pathway, “Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind, don’t matter, and those who matter, don’t mind.” Thank you ladies and gentlemen and class of 2005 for giving me this opportunity to speak to you on this special night.
