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   Wearing a hijab symbolizes empowerment, respect, and modesty among Muslim women. During Women’s History Month, and the recent World Hijab Day, Charter’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) held their 3rd annual Hijab Walk-a-Thon. Not only to celebrate Muslim attire and traditions, but to represent and encourage women to embrace their culture. The celebration had many events around the track; with booths from Charter’s clubs, cultural dishes, and a fashion show performed by none other than students. After concluding their first Hijab-A-Thon since the pandemic, MSA and their attendees expressed their feelings of excitement for the occasion!

Asra Khan (senior): “Leading up to the event, I was really stressed because it was our first time doing it after a couple of years. As the event went by, we ran into a couple of obstacles. But in the end, I was so happy with how everything turned out. We made a really good amount of money, and it’s all going to charity. Everyone felt like they were a part of our cause, especially the other clubs who had their tables. Every little thing, including the people doing the fashion show, in a way also helped  us raise money. I was really happy with the results, and I hope next year they can do even better.” 

Jovan Alfonso (senior): – “The hijabathon was a very fun and educational time where I both learned much about different cultures and also enjoyed the amazing food and entertaining games.”

Camila Correa (junior): “As the Vice President of Women United, we had a table booth there and we were passing out little magazines meant to inform people about MSA, all about the Hijab-a-thon, and different types of headwear. We were also promoting our club shirts, and accepting donations. All of the money that we received gets donated to the Lotus House, a shelter for women who have been domestically abused. This event was a great success.”

Cristopher Palomino (senior):  – “Hijabathon was fun. We mostly just played soccer with a bunch of my friends since we realized the field was empty. Then more people started to join us which just increased the joy that I had during the event. Eventually I wanted to see what the event was ment to offer so I walked around and enjoyed the nice tables with the clubs which had activities to do and information about relevant stuff going on. I also watched a fashion show which I found fascinating as it heavily embraced Muslim culture which is something not very expressed in our school environment. I heard tons of positive comments from my friends so I know I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed this event”

Samira Butler (junior): “I was one of the board members who coordinated the Hijab-a-thon, I ran the fashion show and helped with setting up. It was really inclusive—seeing many people from different backgrounds come together, it was amazing and the moon on that day shined so good.”

Xavier Delarosa (junior): “I was very honored, it was great to represent a different culture than my own, it was very fun. I felt confident. It was an amazing experience.” 

 Sonia Ally (junior): “In the Hijab-A-Thon, I was working at the henna stand and really just helping out with everything I could in general. Henna is just one example of why it’s important to spread awareness of our Muslim identity—it allows us to let people that are unfamiliar with our culture appreciate its beauty through our school. Even with the fashion show, we allowed every student be apart of trying out clothes from another culture and embrace it from another perspective, which is one of the most beautiful things about sharing our backgrounds. You don’t have to be Muslim to understand and appreciate Islamic life, which is exactly what we tried to show at the Hijab-A-Thon this year.”