My First Day in Hijab

By Jillian Pikora (Writer, Political Scientist)

“Have you always been in our class?” One of my classmates asked me that during my Summer intensive Major British Author’s course. The odd part was that there were only seven students in the classroom. I was always the first to arrive, always spoke in class, and the last to leave. The only thing that was different about me was that I was wearing hijab.

I had converted to Islam in early 2011, but I waited to wear the hijab until my return to the USA after I had a semester abroad in Eastern Europe. My parents had been nervous about travelling while wearing hijab. I decided to wait to commit to wear it out of respect for their wishes.

July 5th, 2011, was the first day I ever wore hijab. I wore a red patterned hijab and a dress. I felt cool and comfortable, even though it was a 95 degree day. My teacher just smiled at me when the other students were treating me strangely. On my way to my car a couple of guys started flirting, and making ‘cat-calls’ at me. I was so shocked that a man would see a woman dressed in modest clothes, and flirt! For the first time in my life, I actually had the courage to respond to them (something I had never done before). I asked “Would you talk to your mother or sister that way?” They seemed completely surprised I responded (I guess that does not happen to them very often). They quickly said “no”, and ran off. I felt fabulous so I went to the masjid to pray dhuhr before my next class.

After I got my spiritual boost, I felt ready for my mid-term presentation, worth 1/3 of my final grade. I had worked for weeks on PowerPoint presentation and speech. I tried on dozens of outfits to find  the perfect one. I wanted my hijab to be secure so I pinned my scarf under my chin and wrapped one corner of the square on to the top of my head and pinned it to a tube under-scarf with a straight pin. I looked confident and professional. When my finished my speech and smiled, the audience and I heard the pin ‘pop’ open and it fly across the room! The square quickly became an unrecognizable mess of fabric that I had to pinch tightly up by  my chin, until I could be excused to the restroom. I tied a knot in the scarf and drove home.

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On the ride home, I realized how important my modesty is to me. The idea of showing my hair, totally freaked me out! It is such a important part of who I am. This was the moment I realized how committed I am to wearing hijab and that I really want to continue to wear it. I committed to wear it in public from that day on, and I have never broken my promise to myself and to God.