“Ramadan is an Islamic month where we fast from sunrise to sunset for about 30 days. It’s a time of religious reflection, setting goals for yourself, and a time to just grow closer to God through community and fasting. 

I’ve celebrated it my whole life, but I only started fasting when I was eight or maybe nine years old.

At home, every night my mom and grandma prepare a good meal to break our fast, and on weekends we gather with extended family and friends to share food and just enjoy each other’s company. We also attend late-night prayers on weekends when we can, and as Eid gets closer, we shop for new clothes and start taking out money to give to children. 

What I look forward to most every year is seeing family I don’t usually get to spend time with, and celebrating Ramadan with my favorite people truly feels special. 

Whenever we break our fast, my family always makes samosas. We prepare trays ahead of time and freeze them for the month, and my sister and I help our grandma make them every year. It truly is a meaningful tradition. 

As I’ve gotten older, Ramadan has become less about festivities and more about strengthening my faith. It’s a time to work on myself, deepen my relationship with God, and set goals for becoming a better Muslim.

 Fasting during school can be challenging, especially at the start or when things get busy. Balancing classes, extracurriculars, and prayer without eating takes some getting used to, but I feel like it’s getting stronger. 

From sunrise to sunset, we don’t eat or drink anything, including water.”