|
Assalamu Alaikum,
At times, with all the
pressures and challenges that come our way, college can feel like a race. A
four-year dash (maybe three if you’ve got on good shoes) to the finish line
seems like a delightfully difficult feat. Our University culture often emphasizes
the end result of our accomplishments- we are expected to focus on final
grades, on graduation, on making it to the finish line and doing whatever it
takes to get there. We are trained to anticipate the success of crossing that
line, rather than cherishing the blessed journey that takes us there.
But a successful
college journey isn’t a dash. It’s a marathon that requires building much
stamina and endurance. College is a time when we enhance our worldview, reflect
on systems of power, challenge common misconceptions, and evaluate our life
priorities. Little value is to be found in a journey that emphasizes the end at
the expense of the process. Finding value in the journey comes through an
appreciation of all the planning, thinking, and most importantly, the people
who are constant forms of inspiration and support who stand by your side in
your journey to get to where you want to be.
The Muslim Students’
Association grew out of a response to a real need- a need to provide Michigan
students a space to feel comfortable and empowered with their Muslim
identities. It grew out of a need to collectively and frankly engage the
broader community at a time when our faith was and has become heavily demonized
and intensely politicized. And it continues to grow with the goal of providing
students room to learn and thrive in the midst of a strong-one-of-a-kind sense
of sisterhood and brotherhood.
Our Muslim community,
much like the broader campus community we are proudly a part of, is spirited
and diverse- a hub of emerging visionaries and leaders. The brilliant
individuals who make up our community come in through many doors- some arriving
with an extensive understanding of their faith, and others with no religious
background; some from strong youth-based communities where they held active
roles, and others from fragmented communities where they felt marginalized or
alienated. Diversity- in all of its forms- is a key feature of our
community’s barakah, and the Muslim Students’ Association is here to
serve all.
Whether it’s through
academic assistance, personal development, spiritual direction, or in helping
you discover and nourish your passions and interests, the community is here for
you, in every possible way, to make your college experience the absolute best
it can be. Each one of us has a story and a page to contribute to Michigan’s
legacy, the MSA is here to help you create that legacy.
If you are a new
Wolverine, I encourage you to join us in building and contributing to the
exceptional Michigan Muslim experience. Get involved in what interests you-
whether that’s volunteering at the Community Kitchen over the weekend, planning
for the highly-anticipated annual Michigan Muslims Banquet, facilitating spaces
for interfaith dialogue, becoming involved in campus activist initiatives,
attending mini-Qiyam on Monday nights, or bringing in something entirely new
for us to celebrate in the future. In the true sense of community-building, I
hope that you will take a step forward in enhancing not only your own college
experience, but also of those around you.
I pray that you find
your destination and that your journey is abundant with blessings and
achievements by the grace and help of Allah (SWT).
We hope to meet you
before the finish line!
Walaikum Assalam, Walaikum Assalam,
Zeinab Khalil
President, 2012-2013
Muslim Students' Association
|
