The holy month of Ramadan in Islam is coming to an end for Muslims around the world. This annual period is marked by the fasting that occurs from sunrise to sundown for thirty days. During this time, I am very reflective and thankful for all that I have in my life, and I get to spend a lot of quality time with my family and friends. At the same time, as a college student, I have had to navigate new challenges that arose throughout this month.Â
Balancing fasting and keeping up with schoolwork and classes is a lot more difficult than I often anticipate it being. Without food and water during the day, I often feel very weak, making it hard to get any work done. I also wake up around 4 AM to eat a large breakfast prior to beginning my fast; because of this, my sleep schedule is altered, and it is sometimes difficult to wake up in time for classes. I occasionally ask for extensions on assignments, but I sometimes feel guilty for using Ramadan as an excuse so often. While I dealt with some of these issues in high school as well, the rigor and time-consuming nature of college have exacerbated my fatigue while fasting.Â
In a few days, my life will return back to normal, but I will be counting down the days until the next Ramadan approaches. The cultural practices of my religion are very important to me, so I try to be very open about them with non-Muslims. Despite the national recognition that Ramadan gets from certain political and famous figures, most people in society are still unaware of the details surrounding this religious month. I hope to see this change as time goes on.