The Muslim Student Association (MSA), created by Muslim students with the purpose of supporting the community and educating others on Islam, meets at lunchtime at UC High and provides a prayer room and a place to connect.

MSA Club President Senior Meryem AlDelaimy said, “As high school students, we want to create an inclusive space for Muslims, and [the UC administration] has been very respectful of our needs. [Mr. Paredes] always respects the religion and everything that we have to do. He is the one that made the prayer room available for us, and we really appreciate that.”

“A lot of people struggle with an identity crisis as a Muslim and strive to fit in with people. They are afraid of being different. The club is here to support students and the efforts they take in embracing their identity,” said Al-Delaimy. Freshman Mahmood Alani joined the MSA “…to get closer to all the other Muslim students at UC High.”

Al-Delaimy said that in her junior year, she became president of the club. “Not a lot of Muslims were here during the time so there weren’t many members. We did have one activity where we went to El Cajon and led a health fair event for refugees.”

Al-Delaimy plans to facilitate fundraisers for people in need, along with planning Ramadan and Eid events at school or during Islamic week.

Al-Delaimy said, “Some may believe that the MSA is just for Muslims but a lot of people can join and learn about Islam and who we are as Muslims.” Al-Delaimy said that the MSA was created to clear up any misconceptions and show people what Islam truly is about.

UC High Alumna Sarah Kousba and Former MSA President said, “When I was president, we had a whole bunch of non Muslims in the MSA, and we would help break the stigmas they would have about Islam and make it a super safe space.” She said that they were open to answering any questions anyone had.

In Kousba’s freshman year, she said, “It was really nice to meet other Muslim students on campus.” In her sophomore year, Kousba said that she decided to be the person who would take charge of it. She added that she took two of her closest friends and then started up the MSA again.

Kousba said, “I feel that in every culture or religion, there is stuff that only people from that culture/religion will truly get. It was nice to be around other Muslim students in high school who understood what it was like to be a Muslim American.”

Al-Delaimy’s message to the Muslim students is to “…be confident of who you are as a Muslim.” She wants people to know that “…we are high school students as well. Everyone here has hopes and dreams they want to achieve in the future.