I cried last night. Was it grief? Frustration? Or shame? A bit of all three, but mainly the last. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. So many others. I’m heartbroken. I’m outraged. But most of all, I’m embarrassed that it took me so long to feel this way. How long did it take? How many … Continue reading some words, some feelings
It hurts. As my Muslim friends share their perspectives and emotions, I’ve realized how much the events of New Zealand have affected them personally. To think that mosques-- places meant to serve as sanctuaries and safe spaces-- were subject to brutal terrorism is painful. To think that “Salam”-- a greeting meaning “peace”-- was returned with … Continue reading On New Zealand, and on “Us”
Walking into the Raindrop Turkish House, it felt nice to smell the aroma of Turkish food and the chatter of voices, my familiar Monday evening surroundings. It wasn’t a Monday, however. And the purpose of my visit was different. A few weeks ago, I spent a memorable evening at the Interfaith Action of Central Texas’ … Continue reading A Hearty Meal and a Heartening Conversation
A week after my last official day as an intern at GirlForward, I wake up to a phone buzzing with messages: “I miss you so much.” “How is school?” “You need to text me more!” Their messages brighten up my day. I’m not going to forget them. Although I have only known most of … Continue reading Friendship Knows No Borders
I live in Round Rock, Texas. Outside of Texas, I like to say that I’m from Austin, which is only minutes away, but to be honest, Round Rock and Austin are worlds apart. Round Rock is small suburban town that looks nothing like its big-city counterpart. Round Rock is quiet, whereas Austin is said to … Continue reading Finding Our Voices in a Small Texas Town (March for Our Lives in Williamson County)
Jerusalem. Al Quds. Temple Mount. Al Aqsa. Israel. Palestine. Regarded by members of all three Western religions as one of the most holy cities in the world, the piece of land has been fought over for eons. President Trump’s decision earlier this week to officially declare the coveted city as the “capital of Israel” was … Continue reading Opinion: Trump’s Decision on Jerusalem… America’s Newest Diplomatic Catastrophe?
As I stepped into the vicinity of the Riverbend Church, I took immediate note of my colorful surroundings. For the eye, the area was lined with rows of stalls displaying art, food, and cultural artifacts from all across the world. For the ear, the air was filled with tones and melodies of different languages. Kippahs, … Continue reading What Truly “Makes America Great”
I’m an outsider to the visual arts world. When given a pencil, my drawing is limited to stick figures. Some crayons and a coloring book result in a well-intended but failed scribble. A hunk of clay is reduced to a limited pinch pot. It’s not just my poor artistic abilities, I have to admit to … Continue reading An Ode to the Clay Community
Picture yourself in high school. You’re a high-performing student who works hard in school. Your grades are stellar, and you are invested in your extracurriculars. You’ve started looking at colleges so that you can pursue the career of your dreams. You have your eyes on some top, selective schools, and you’re all set to apply, … Continue reading Time to Turn Dreams into Reality
It’s early August and tensions have been brewing in Jerusalem, known to many as one of the holiest cities in the world. July marked increased conflict over a religious site known as Al-Aqsa to Muslims and Temple Mount to Jews, and regarded as incredibly important by both. To add to that, the killing of two … Continue reading Breaking Down Stereotypes
Shraddha Joshi 