Kaela Yamini

Hey, I’m Kaela Yamini and you’re probably wondering how to say my last name. Yes, it is pronounced Ya-meanie but the background behind it is pretty interesting. My dad is a Muslim so I have this last name through inheritance and I follow Islam just like him. Even though he’s Muslim, my mom isn’t; she’s Christian. To get even a little deeper, my dad’s last name wasn’t always Yamini because my grandparents converted to Islam when he was very little, so the vast majority of my family is also Christian. In essence, I have a pretty unique upbringing if you ask me but without it, I wouldn’t have half the character I do now and for that I’m grateful.

For me, it was not always easy having two religions in my house; my parents have been married for 21 years so there’s always been this exclusive scenario in my life. There would be many times where I would get confused and start to feel lost in the information I learned about both religions, but they’ve shaped me into the multifaceted person I am. Because of my religious background, I have a broader perspective on life and I can put myself in the shoes of people from various upbringings. Although, the wisdom I’ve acquired from both of my parents is useful, there are some times where their values collide, especially around Christmas time, but they seem to make it work and it has been working the last couple of decades which I think is pretty incredible. People ask me what made me choose Islam and my response is it just made more sense to me but I’ll always have a love for Christianity for it has made me understanding, patient, and spiritual which is something many people can’t say.