Lana C

My story is an interesting one. But lets start with the fact that I am Muslim American. That is possibly the single most important thing anyone would need to know about me. I wasn't always in this particular demographic, I grew up super christian and by super I mean total God Squad. Private schools, church and youth group faithfully every week, if it was church related I was there.

At around 20 I got into a conversation with some of my favorite New Yorkers (one half jewish, one athiest and one christian) about religion. They all brought up some very interesting points and questions that I had never even thought to ask about my own beliefs.

At this point I hadn't said anything to my family for fear of the reaction. In most cases it's quite taboo to learn openly about other religions when you've grown up thinking your way is the only right way. God had other ideas. Meeting my mother after work she brought up the fact that she met a hebrew woman a few months ago at her new job who she had been having religious conversations with and had gotten to the point where she was feeling she needed to do more research on her own beliefs. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I told her that I had experienced the same thing and it'd be a lot easier if we researched and studied religion together.

A year later at 21 I made my shahada a few weeks after my mother made hers. My younger siblings and uncle all eventually followed suit. 4 years later and here I am at 25 having the time of my life.