Community. The beauty of it is kept through traditions of different religions and cultures. Just recently, Muslims in our campus had an Iftar for boarding students, where two special guests had come with well-cooked food and brought the Muslims and others who joined together over the breaking of fast. Ramadan has come to an end and Eid ended just before the month had started to end, but the true ideas of community stay integrated.

The event was hosted by Reverend Aimee, who cohosted the Iftar with Mrs. Elliot, the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) director in our school contacted Chaplin Ussama Malik to bring 3 Omani nationals for the event. The event, according to Reverend Aimee, was hosted by the two boarding students from Oman. They were “delighted to meet three other people from Oman, as were our Omani guests.” She adds on by saying that “Many faculty, students, and parents came as well. It was very meaningful both for our Muslim students and for our Omani guests to not have to break their fast alone,” and she concludes that she would love to do more of this next year as it could be “another school tradition that more people will enjoy in years to come.” 

This appreciative sentiment was also shared by one of the Muslim boarders who had helped prepare and attend the Iftar. As Reverend Aimee said, many parents and students came to attend the Iftar, and the student interviewed said that “many were fascinated with how things worked.” The exposure to different cultures brings an awareness of diversity in our campus, and the interviewee adds that “it was incredible to know that there were other Omanis in Austin,” and that he was “appreciative of this event and happy that it happened.”

Representation on campus is always amazing to have, and seeing the fruits of people coming together to celebrate diversity and cultures from different parts of the world is something that is fundamental to creating such a loving and kind community on the Hill. Iftar, and more events like these are a gateway to new events including different cultures, particularly more of my Muslim community on campus.