By Aria Bashir
After a decade of planning to take this step, three months ago, I very spontaneously took the leap! It seemed like I was always waiting for a milestone to occur and used it as an excuse to delay taking this step. It started with “let me finish high school and do it when I have a fresh start,” and said the same thing again in university, and then I had to have my hair out for my wedding, and then I said I will wait until I am a mother.
At the end of 2019, I said I can’t wait anymore! I wrote down three target “first day” dates to make myself feel more accountable and said New Years will be the latest I can push this. And with a bit of fear and nervousness (which was so short lived) – I did it! I am blessed to have a husband and family who support my decision. I acknowledge that many people don’t have this freedom of choice. My husband treated me to a little hijab shopping spree, and is constantly taking my photos and filling me with compliments.
When choosing to marry Ahmad, I had to make sure this was something he’d support eventually. It was definitely something we were on the same page about. And the most exciting news – my best friend and mother began her hijab journey to support me during this transition – which I am so beyond proud of!
My biggest hesitation throughout my life was sadly, that it would impact my ability to build a career. But I am grateful to be working apart of an organization who actually stand by their values of diversity and inclusion, making me feel so comfortable walking in with an entirely different and unapologetic identity. KPMG has a culture that I can’t say my previous employers had, where they encourage you to bring your whole self to work and nothing but; truly championing an inclusive workforce.
After such a short period of time, hijab has become a part of me. Truthfully, I was mentally prepared for much more struggles and triumphs, but I was wrong. The only difficult part about it was starting. I feel the most comfortable and confident than I’ve ever felt.
Before putting on the hijab, people wondered why my Muslim last name didn’t match my appearance. Now, I can proudly be a flag bearer of my faith, causing no confusion that I AM MUSLIM.