July 25, 2014

Waffa Abu-Hajar is currently entering her last year at Temple City High School and is hoping to attend the California State University of Fullerton to major in Broadcast Journalism. Due to her fiery passion for media and entertainment, she was attracted to the idea of interning in the Hollywood Bureau at MPAC.

While her parents dream of their daughter pursuing a career in the medical field, she feels the importance for women who wear hijab to hold a role in media is far more crucial. As a Los Angeles Anti-Bullying Panelist in 2012, she described the lack of awareness bullied Muslims receive from adults. From this experience, she confidently started wearing hijab. She learned that Muslim youth, especially girls, are not proud of who they are because there has not been Muslim role models in the media. This ignites her focus to become a broadcast journalist.

Waffa is currently starting up her YouTube channel to get a taste of the media. Planning to cater to the audience's interest in comedy, she plans to add in the importance to have confidence. In her work with MPAC, she is learning to network closely with those in the media, specifically Hollywood that will help her pursue her goals in the media.