Redefining A World of Stereotypes

From an early age, I was taught that kindness isn’t just a value but a way of life. This belief was central to my upbringing, deeply rooted in my family, and shaped who I’ve become today. Yet, as I grew older, I realized that these core values were often overshadowed by the stereotypes the media painted about my culture.

After 9/11, my father had to change his name from Abdul Majeed to John on every U.S. identification document just to find employment. The world had changed, and suddenly, people like us were viewed differently. I grew up hearing comments about women in my culture being oppressed and denied education, yet my religion values and encourages education for women. People would make remarks about terrorism, not knowing that both of my parents are refugees, forced to flee their homes because of the very violence we were being associated with.

As I grew older, I started to notice a glaring disconnect between the world I knew at home--full of love, resilience, and kindness--and the world people thought they knew about me. It was disheartening to see my culture reduced to negative stereotypes and oversimplified narratives. But instead of letting this narrative define me, I chose to rewrite it. I began by sharing my own story and getting involved in my community, even when I didn’t see many others like me doing the same. It quickly became clear that this lack of representation wasn’t just a local issue—it was a nationwide problem. That realization drove me to become politically active.

One particular statistic hit me hard: In Texas, only 1% of Muslims were likely to vote. That number, more than anything, made me realize how much work needed to be done. I became a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR) in three counties and took it upon myself to encourage not just Muslims, but all minorities and young people in my area to register and vote. There was a desperate need for greater participation, and I wanted to help fill that gap.

I choose to embrace my heritage and culture with pride. Though the world may try to highlight our differences, the truth is, we are all more alike than we think. I encourage everyone to look beyond the surface, dig deeper, and find the beauty within us all because what connects us is far more powerful than what divides us.