'If I am not for myself, who will be?' ~Pirke Avoth

There are many people out in the world who are hesitant to express their feelings, or present their skills. Some people find it difficult to speak out and have their voice heard. I, for one have that problem sometimes. But what I’ve learned being at ISKL, is that there isn’t a reason to be afraid to stand up and speak your mind. If you have somethine to say, say it. If you have an idea, promote it. If you think about doing something, do it. I believe that confidence an dbeing proud of who you are is worth fighting for.
   When I was thinking about wearing the hijab, the Muslim headscarf, I knew that since my mother wore it, there wasn’t really much to think about. But, I knew that school would be one obstacle I would have to cross very carefully though; friends wondering why I chose to wear the hijab, teasing, many, many, questions. That was what set my decision trembling. I went to my mom for help, she’d already gone through this whole process. She told me to just answer the questions as calmly as possible, teaching the people about my religion and my traditions. From my mother I learned that when you’re scared, nervous, or angry, you have to conquer your problems as calmly as possible. If you over react or don’t react at all, then the problems either get worse, or never get solved. She also told me never to change for anyone, always be myself. My mum is the person who helped build my confidence and taught me how to take control of my problems
     Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, the ‘Greatest of All Time’. We all know that he was the world heavyweight champion. We all know that he is now suffering from Parkinson’s disease, where his nervous system is slowly breaking down. But what we don’t know is that ever since he was a child, he had the willpower, the confidence in himself, and the solid goal of being the ‘Greatest of All Time’. When he was lighting the cauldron at the 1996 Summer Olympics, his Parkinson’s symptoms nearly got the better of him. But, he pulled it together out of his own strength and will. I think that even though Mr. Ali wasn’t as strong as he was before, he was still very brave to overcome his symptoms and stand proud. It was after all, his confidence that let him shine.
“If they don’t want Sufiya Abdur-Rahman, then they don’t want me.” As soon as I finished reading Sufya Abdur-Rahman’s essay, I knew I would be able to relate. We both were Muslim, and we both were extremely proud of who we are. Ms. Abdur-Rahman had a hard time getting jobs because of her name and her identity. If you read her essay, you’ll learn that she’d never backed down from her problems and fought them right in their faces. I know that if I ever had to go through something like that, where people couldn’t accept me for who I am, I wouldn’t be able to keep my ground as firmly as Ms. Abdur-Rahman. I think that she’s a very strong woman and deserves to be recognized for her spirit.
I know that I am confident in who I am and how I behave. But sometimes, I just don’t feel that courage, or my nerves get the better of me. When that happens, I know that I’ve got no choice but to get over myself and pull through it all. I believe that all the people out there who aren’t sure of themselves and depend on others, need to look inside for a change. They need to see why they can’t be courageous and persist and be determined to solve that problem. 'New Harmony' by Paul Klee seems to symbolize confidence because of the bold colors that stand out in the middle of the painting. When you are confident, you stand up and stand out. Confidence is what helps you move on with difficulties and succeed.