As we have progressed through this journey of exploration thus far, I have honestly had uncomfortable moments of realization of how little knowledge I have about people around me. How could I have considered myself adequately informed and capable of relating to my students and others in my learning community and life outside of school? Due to the PINE Project, I have had moments of reckoning that have brought me to tears as I saw how I had believed that I understood my students, but was missing such vital pieces of who they are. I am humbled and moved deeply by the grace that my students have given me as I requested patience and began learning with them and from them. 

What I now know and notice about Ramadan and the Muslim faith and community is the incredible spirit of caring for others and the deeply committed spirit that is evident in the students in my class who live their lives as part of a beautiful legacy of compassion, kindness, and self-reflection. I notice that my students who are fasting for Ramadan are proud to be choosing this sacrifice and to share the why behind this with their peers. It is so inspiring to see my students discussing their faiths, beliefs, cultures, and traditions with their community of learners and friends in ways that never happened before the PINE Project. As discussions broke down barriers and built connections, I realized that I also felt my perspective shift, from little glimpses of aha moments around faith being a choice, to seeing the powerful intention of goodness behind the Muslim faith and the dedication of those within this community to create positive change around them.

I wonder how many students that I taught in the past wished that we could have had these conversations…that they could have felt heard and more fully understood by myself and their peers.  I wonder if they left my class feeling like I missed a huge part of who they were, which is truly sad and a tremendous loss of so many opportunities.