I’m a First generation child in America of my two war refugee parents from Bosnia and Herzegovina. My family had to flee the place they knew as home due to a terrible war cleansing them only for being Muslims in Bosnia. 

 In American schools we have days off for holidays such as Christmas, thanksgiving and Jewish holidays but no where is there breaks for Muslim holidays such as Ramadan and eid. Schools don’t get off for Muslim holidays due to regulations and the district simply not allowing it.

  There’s days of the school year that I deserve to have off as well as many other Muslims to celebrate the holiday and be able to pray and fast. But instead we are forced to learn about other religions and holidays but once it comes to a Muslim no one cares right? 

  My school doesn’t have much diversity other then the two Muslims in my grade, me and one other student. When we talk about terror attacks or anything to do with Muslims coming out to be bad people we are always hoping that it’ll get into someone’s head that Muslims deserve to be recognized, given the time of day that they need to devote their love to their religion. 

  We are all brothers and sisters. Maybe not with the same beliefs but we all deserve to be recognized. 

- Amela Muric