Having strict parents is like a fever dream. So imagine my surprise when my parents allowed me to go on a two-day trip to another state to attend the Journalism Education Association’s national convention in Philadelphia Nov. 8-9.
“I give you permission to go to Pennsylvania only because I trust you,” my father said.
As excited as I was to travel without parental oversight, I couldn’t help but wonder how I would be able to do my religious duties while away from home. I wasn’t sure about where and how I could manage my prayers but was determined to make it work, especially because my parents trusted me to do the right thing.
The first challenge came with praying Duhr, the afternoon prayer. There is usually a specific direction we have to pray in. Luckily, I was able to pray on the Amtrak train on the way to Philadelphia. Next was Asr, which I managed to pray in the hotel room at the conference center at the Marriott shortly after Duhr. Following was Magrhib and Isha, the evening prayers.
My advisor, Deborah Porterfield, entrusted me as a journalist to navigate the conference center’s rooms on three different floors. This confidence allowed me to go to many workshops where I learned how to be the best journalist I can be. My favorite topics included “Up Your Interview Game,” “Journalism Beyond High School’’ and “How To Write Award-Worthy Opinion Articles.’’
The “Up Your Interview Game” conference stood out to me because it provided tips on executing a successful interview: To schedule an interview, email the interviewee, introduce yourself and ask about their availability. To prepare for the interview, find background information about the topic and gather facts. While executing the interview, ask questions that don’t rely on one-words answers, let the interviewee tell their side first and slow down and listen.
Waking up at 5:30 a.m. for Fajr on Saturday proved to be the real struggle. I tried not to wake up my roommates’ peaceful sleep while tripping over everything because I couldn’t see in the dark.
My roommates and I officially woke up 90 minutes later at 7 a.m. After a quick breakfast, we headed to more workshops. After the third workshop, it was time for Duhr again in the afternoon. Then came Asr, which I also prayed at the convention center before we left. Then we headed to Independence Hall, where we learned about the U.S. Constitution and its signing.
Then around 5 p.m., we picked up our now overstuffed backpacks and started an exhausting 1.3-mile hike to the Amtrak Station. As we walked through Philadelphia, I wondered if I should pray Maghrib at the train station or on the train. I eventually settled on praying the last two prayers, Maghrib and Isha, on the train we boarded at 7 p.m.
During my two-day adventure, I got to interact with students from high schools in other states, talk to college representatives from schools outside New York City and learn how journalists report and write stories. And I also found time to pray.
The trip broadened my view of the world and makes me want to know and experience more, confident that I can do so while still meeting my religious duties.
