My name speaks purpose into my life and my life speaks purpose into my name. Yusra refers to the ease that comes with every hardship in life. God named me Yusra so I can reflect on the series of hardships and ease that has lead me to this moment. 

After attending New Horizon Islamic school during my early childhood years, my parents moved to a new city where I was enrolled in public school. Unfortunately, I was bullied for my faith, name, hair, body and basically everything. This lead me to seek a space were I would be celebrated for all of my otherness. 

Throughout my childhood, I attended therapy and that helped me become highly reflective. As an immigrant raising kids in a western country, my mom believed therapy would help bridge the gap between her cultural/religious views and ours. It was the best thing she ever did. 

During high school, I felt a sense of belonging at masjid youth groups. But I experienced the magnitude of what our ummah has to offer when I attended UC Irvine and joined the Muslim Student Union. Those beloved years were filled with humor - like playing Assassin in Court Yard study lounge during finals week. Our weapon of choice? Rolled up socks. :)

Now I advocate for Social Justice for a living. If I hadn’t been bullied, and if I didn’t experience a loving sense of belonging among my ummah, I wouldn’t be doing civil rights work today.  

Intention: I am opening myself up to courtship to experience the entirety of my humanity which entails feeling every component of my heart. I want to experience love, hope and even rejection to explore just how much my heart has to offer.