February 5, 2016

My name is Asra Ahmad and I am a junior at George Mason University, studying Community Health. From any early age, I have always been fascinated by the world around me. More specifically, I was interested in learning about the American Muslim identity and how I could make a difference in the lives of those around me. After the 9/11 terror attacks, I faced new challenges as a Muslim in America, experiencing discrimination and bullying at an early age, but I did not let that deter me from pursuing my education or making friends in school.

During high school, I found myself defending my faith on a more regular basis. While discussing U.S. flag burning in the Middle East, the conversation quickly turned hostile as classmates blamed followers of Islam for these acts. Being the only Muslim in a class of 200 students, I was left to defend myself against peers. I was shocked and upset by the comments made by my classmates, but I knew that I could not let this deter me from my faith and identify. Instead, I allowed this experience to inspire me to be an active voice in the community.

During my first two years in college, I founded a student organization that focused on promoting a peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims. We held events that focused on fighting Islamophobia and fighting the new threat of violent extremism in the Middle East.  During the summer of 2015, I attended MPAC’s Young Leaders Summit and met with representatives from the White House, Department of Justice, Department of State, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson. From these meetings, I learned that there is a place for American Muslims in government and with a collective effort, we can improve the lives of Muslims in America.

Asra Ahmad, a Pakistani-American Muslim student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, is studying Community Health with a concentration in Global Health. She is interning with the Muslim Public-Affairs Council in the DC office.