Trusting the Process - A Personal Relfection

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. 2:153” As I was growing up, my parents always told me to have faith in Allah, and to put my trust in him. I never took their advice up until a few years ago when I was desperate for guidance.

When I was about six years old, my parents enrolled me into a school where they thought would be best for my education. I went there for the next eight years of my life. The people that I went to school with weren’t the best influences. My grades were never the best and I always had a hard time focusing in school. I always came up with lies, just so I could hang out with people who I thought were my friends. This went on for years until half way through middle school when I got into a big fight with my parents. They mentioned how I was the only one out of my siblings to come home with failing grades and a bad attitude. The look on their faces made me feel like I was the worst daughter ever, and I knew that they didn’t deserve that. That night, my heart was extremely heavy with guilt and I could not stop thinking about how much of a disappointment I was.

Even though I wasn’t the best student or the best daughter, I always kept my faith in Allah intact. I would try my best to pray five times a day, and keep God in my thoughts. When I realized I needed to get myself together, I consistently made dua, wishing for better grades and a good future. I wanted to make my parents proud by being a daughter who did well in school and listened to them.

I knew that I, myself, had to put in effort into trying to better myself. I couldn’t just ask for better grades and a good future, and have it handed to me the next day. I started asking my parents for permission to do things I wanted to do, instead of going behind their backs. I started to study more, so I could do well in school. It was hard for me to break out of my old habits, but I never stopped trying and I trusted that Allah had my back and would help me along the way.

Soon enough, it was time to apply for high schools. With my grades, I was terrified that I wouldn’t get into a good school, and that once again I would be put into an environment that would negatively influence me. However, I was surprised when I received my acceptance into Bronx Science. I was lucky enough to pass the cut off score by just enough.

I could never be more thankful for Allah, for he is the reason why I am in such a happy place. Getting into this school surrounded me with friends who looked out for me and wanted the best for me. I was getting an education that was very stressful but also better for me as a person. I was able to push myself to do good in my classes. Even after reaching the happy place that I had wished for, I still place my trust in Allah and thank him every day, because he is the reason why I am so happy.

“And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things. 65:3” Despite how hard life may be, trusting Allah and having patience is the best solution. We, as the children of Allah, have our lives planned out by God himself. He knows what's best for us and only wants us to be happy. Sometimes it takes a few bumps to get to where you want to be, but in the end it's all about the process it took to get there.