Ramadan is no easy feat, and there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the holiday. Like how fasting works, or the reasons behind why those are fasting. One thing that you can do if you want to support someone who is fasting is to take some time to learn about the holiday, and don’t be afraid to ask them questions.
“It helps me connect better with the religion and the people doing it with you,” Junior Abdallah El Kousy said.
El Kousy is among the many students and tennis players at Lakewood High School who are fasting for Ramadan. He explained that while it was harder for him to fast when he was younger, now he sees the holiday as more of a tradition.
“If someone else is doing it, then I have to show up,” El Kousy said.
El Kousy and the other tennis athletes have brought awareness to this ritual to the team, and in doing so, Junior Joel Burnsed and Tennis Coach Christina Mills were encouraged to fast along with him and the others.
Despite not having any religious connection to the sacred holiday was happy to join in on the fasting after being asked by several of her students to join them in the holiday ritual, and although it hasn’t been easy, it has been a profound experience for her.
“Before I thought it was just about practicing for the religion, but it’s a lot more about discipline and honoring the religion,” Tennis Coach, Christina Mills, said.
By fasting with her students, she has learned just how important this holiday is and has gotten the chance to understand her students on a deeper level, especially when it comes to her Tennis athletes. Since she has begun fasting with them, she can now have conversations about Ramadan with her athletes that she couldn’t before, and her athletes trust her enough to tell her when they need a break.
“My view has changed because now I can see how difficult it can be,” Mills Said.
