Faith, Identity, and Campus Life: What It’s Like Navigating St. Kate’s as a Muslim Woman
By Amirah Idris
Walking through St. Kate’s for the first time, I remember feeling a strange mix of excitement and caution. College is already a huge transition, but entering a new space as a visibly Muslim woman adds a layer that most people don’t see. It’s not just about classes, friends, or adjusting to dorm life. It’s about carrying your faith with you - your hijab, your values, your culture - and hoping the world you’re stepping into will understand, or at least try to.
What surprised me most this semester was how often faith shows up in small, quiet ways. It’s in the moment I leave class and head to the prayer room, where the calmness feels like a reset button after a long morning. It’s in the way I scan a syllabus to see if any assignments might conflict with religious practices. It’s in the way I notice who smiles back when I walk in, who hesitates, who relaxes, and who stays curious. These moments aren’t loud, but they shape the rhythm of my days more than people realize.
St. Kate’s is a campus that talks a lot about community, justice, and inclusivity. For me, those values became real through the people I encountered. The classmates who treated me like I belonged before they even knew my name. The professor who asked if I needed anything during Ramadan, even though it’s still months away. The small group of Muslim students I met, who understood instantly what it feels like to navigate a Catholic institution with a different faith and still feel seen.
But it wasn’t always easy. There were moments when I felt like I had to represent more than just myself. Moments when a question or stare reminded me that I’m visibly “different,” even in the most subtle ways. Balancing cultural identity and campus culture can feel heavy sometimes. You don’t want to shrink yourself, but you also don’t want to constantly explain your existence. And being one of the few Muslims in a space often means doing both.
Still, there’s something powerful about learning to hold your identity firmly without letting the weight of judgment settle on your shoulders. This semester taught me that I don’t need a big community to feel grounded. I just need the right pockets of support. A friendly face in the library. A quiet study corner that feels safe. A club meeting where my voice matters. A faith-centered moment that reminds me who I am, even in the busiest weeks.
Being a Muslim woman at St. Kate’s isn’t just about navigating campus life. It’s about weaving my own thread into the fabric of a place that is still growing, changing, and learning. And as the semester ends, I see how much these small experiences added up. I’m more confident, more open, and more rooted in myself than when I first walked in with my backpack and nerves.
There’s something special about feeling both different and deeply connected at the same time. It’s a reminder that identity isn’t a barrier. It’s a bridge. And this semester, St. Kate’s became a place where I learned how to cross it with a little more grace, strength, and faith than I had before.
