I stood before the mirror yesterday morning, tucking, twisting, pulling — I just couldn’t get the scarf right. Finally, after a lot of muttering, I had the soft fabric wrapped perfectly. Then I realized I didn’t have a pin — safety or straight — so I grabbed an earring and improvised. With one last glance in the mirror, and a quick glance at the clock, I realized I was ridiculously late and ran out the door. For me, this was almost a normal morning, except I’m usually not quite that late … OK, it was a completely normal morning, minus the “hijab” I was wearing.

Hijab is a term used to describe the act of covering everything except one’s face, hands and feet, according to information from the Women’s Center. But hijab means more than a head scarf or physical appearance. According to Sara Yasin, a junior in textile and apparel management who has been covering since she was 15, hijab encompasses what Muslim women consider practicing modesty.

Well, I’m not a practicing Muslim. I’m not even considering converting. I was actually born and raised backwoods Baptist, and have never had any exposure to Islam or Muslim culture until I came to N.C. State. For this reason, I have always been fascinated by Muslim women. Since coming to the University, I can say proudly that three of my closest friends are Muslim women, and amazing ones at that. When the opportunity came to experience a day in their hijab, I jumped at the chance.

Behind the Veil was a program sponsored by the Women’s Center. Yasin started working with the Women’s Center to implement this program, her brainchild, this past summer. The idea behind the program was for non-Muslim women to better understand Muslim women and their choice to cover themselves by spending a day in hijab.

I’m not sure what I was expecting as I left the house yesterday morning; weird glances, questioning stares, confused friends. However, what I got was more or less a normal day. There was no more attention paid me in my first class, genetics, than anyone else who came in late. In my Spanish class we even discussed the way Islam influenced Spain, and not a single person, that I noticed, so much as glanced my way. Friends just smiled, said it took them a second to recognize me, and then asked if I was wearing the scarf on a whim. The longest glances I received were from Muslim women, and I’m almost positive it was more of a “who is this girl and why don’t I know her” than anything else. Throughout the day, as I became used to the scarf, I sort of forgot I had it on, honestly. I had always thought the hijab would be so cumbersome and confining, but really, I felt very comfortable. I also felt quite pretty. Whereas I have always used my hair to sort of hide and define me, for the first time I can remember I was completely putting myself out there. I was exposing me, no styled or colored hair, just my face and folds of fabric. And it felt amazing.

And while I understand wearing the hijab is a completely personal decision based on religious conviction, wearing the scarf, even without the religious reasons, was an eye-opening experience for me about not only Muslim women, but about myself. And hey, NCSU, give yourself a pat on the back. I definitely have more faith in you guys now, and I think it’s fantastic that I was given the same respect as a woman in hijab as I am every other day.