Aasina Afsar finally felt strong enough in her Islamic faith to wear her hijab, a traditional scarf that women wear on her head, as she headed into high school.
But there were consequences to her decision.
"Before I started wearing the hijab, boys would always ask me out," Asfar said. "After I started wearing it, not one guy came up to me."
Asfar was part of a group of UNM students offered unique perspectives about being Muslim teenagers in the United States during a forum in Dane Smith Hall Wednesday.
The panelists talked about their experiences growing up and how they were sometimes misunderstood by their peers. They also discussed the role Islam played in their lives and how it related to their interactions with fellow students.
The forum was the first in a new series called "Light Upon Light - Muslim Perspectives," which is sponsored by the Maxwell Museum and the Muslim Student Association. The panel included Ali Ellis, president of the Muslim Student Association, Afsar, Sheda Khalaf and Yousef Assed.
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The students agreed that their experiences growing up were relatively positive and saw their role with students and friends as educational - teaching them about their religion and their customs.
Assed, a 17-year-old sophomore running for ASUNM Senate, said when he was younger, he saw himself as an outcast. But as he grew up, he saw his outlook on life as different from his peers.
Assed said his name tends to stick with people, but can be a disadvantage, especially when it comes to the voting booth because of the conceptions some people have about Muslims.
"There is a chance that I may not get that vote because that guy doesn't understand, doesn't have an open mind," Assed said. "But I am willing to take that risk, and I am not going to let that affect the rest of my life."
A common theme the panelists touched on was the reactions their peers had to some of their customs. Asfar said she had to explain to friends that her mother prayed so often -five times a day - because it was an obligation of their religion.
Because of some of their customs, the group said high school life was different. They also had to perform their prayers in school, and the schools accommodated them. They said they do not drink alcohol, smoke or eat pork products.
Asfar and Khalaf said they were not allowed to date boys and whenever they went to events, they usually went with a group of girls.
Asfar said that in Islam, the intention of romantic relationships is for marriage and must be arranged through parents. However, the woman can refuse the marriage.
Ellis said the intent behind the custom is to avoid out-of-wedlock children.
"The institution of marriage in Islam is core; it is the building block of society," Ellis said. "That's why there is that structure."
Most of the panel members said they did not experience any overt discrimination, but Assed said he and his family received threatening phone calls after the Sept. 11 attacks. One harasser called for seven days, he said..
