“Islam,” says 24-year old Megan McCaslin, “is a way of life.” Megan views her religion as a lifestyle, not a culture. Although she is not the only student on campus to wear a hijab, her religious journey is certainly one to be told.
Within Bloomsburg University, there are 11 organization who are categorized as faith and religion. One of these is the Muslim Student Association (MSA), which Megan is the proud president of. There are six Muslim professors on campus as well as a small community of students, some a part of MSA and others not.
Megan grew up in a Presbyterian home in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. She attended Sunday church typically three times a month and was a part of Bible study as well. She noted that a heavy influence on her old religion was her Aunt, whom which she is still very close with.
In her late teens, Megan dated a Muslim who seldom practiced the religion he identified by. His religion sparked so much interest in Megan that at the age of 19, she decided to go forth with Tashahhud, the conversion process to the Islamic religion.
The transition’s most important component is the reciting of the Arabic rendition of “there is not God but the God, the last messenger is Prophet Muhammad.” Megan says, “you have to really believe what you are saying and say it with two witnesses, one of them being God.”
Her mother still disagrees with her religious beliefs; however, they have remained very close. She was viewed in comparison with her sister as the good child growing up, which because of her religious preferences, has been questioned. Megan declares that although she and her mother have dissimilar beliefs, they started to pray at the same times which made their relationship stronger.
“I am not going to say my religion is better than yours,” she states, “converting helped my personality and confidence because people only see what I want them to see.”
In terms of Megan’s college experience, it is quite unique. After hearing from multiple Muslim students, the consensus was that Bloomsburg has such a diverse culture that being on campus, people are generally welcoming and friendly. Whereas, off campus is where there are looks and whispers.
When Trump was elected into office in November 2016, the response was overwhelming. Megan, as well as other Islamic students on campus, were stunned to see how many people in fact came to their defense when the president’s travel ban was proposed.
When it comes to the stereotypical college experiences, Megan does not partake, which is not to say she never did. Before converting, she drank and smoked as a way to “find herself.” Drugs and alcohol, although an unfortunate norm in college, is a lifestyle that Muslims simply do not indulge in.
Megan says she bases her decisions and actions on a simple quote: “would God be happy with what you are doing in this very moment?”
Aside from not involving herself in common college indulgences, Megan is also married and currently lives with her husband in Bloomsburg.
When asked about her future, Megan wants a large family. Nine children to be exact. She wishes to live on a farm with a small mosque nearby in order to pray often. She intends to travel to Saudi Arabia to work for a few years following graduation but plans for her children to be born in America so they have dual citizenship.
The greatest thing about Megan is her openness to conversation. “I would never be offended by a question when the intent is to learn, I only get offended when someone thinks they already know they answer.”
Culture Shock 