In the face of exhaustive stereotypes portrayed from the media about Muslims, Rodaina Tarek Mousa, an English literature graduate university student from Alexandria, Egypt, encourages Other people to look outside of her look and advocates for social justice.
“Due to the fact I’ve gotten right here, I’ve had a great deal of discussions with all unique kinds of men and women — from bus drivers to random folks on campus,” Mousa explained. “It’s been a lot of of a watch opener, how Many individuals that do not know what Egypt is. They see Egypt and think about camels, pyramids and deserts, However they don’t see past that.”
Proving Egypt contains in excess of its stereotypes, Mousa encourages Other folks to think about the skills of Egyptians.
“I'm an indicator that hijabs there are people who Imagine, Have a very brain of their own and so are capable of obtaining massive things,” Mousa said. “I’m hoping I’m a window to those men and women [who misunderstand Muslims].”
Mousa been given a grant through the Fulbright U.S. Pupil Method, which led her to enroll at SIUE and pursue a graduate degree in English literature, even though concurrently completing educating assistantships for your Arabic language and English literature.
“I’m the Arabic one hundred and one Instructor on campus, [and] I’m also accomplishing my graduate programs and taking up Gals’s scientific studies — that’s sort of my emphasis,” Mousa said. “Again household, I’m a instructing assistant at Alexandria University. I instruct English literature with a spotlight in 16th and 17th century literature.”
Based on Mousa, her assortment for a Fulbright Grant recipient lets her to bridge the linguistic and cultural distinctions amongst the U.S. and Egypt.
“I possess the Fulbright Grant, And that i’ve been picked out as well as 23 folks from my state away from one hundred million individuals, actually, for being below and do these scientific tests,” Mousa mentioned. “This grant will allow men and women from all around the environment to come back to the U.S. and educate their mom tongue to College college students and American Students to go abroad and teach English to university learners in return.”
Mousa explained individuals normally make assumptions about her and her beliefs ahead of even aquiring a dialogue along with her.