AT Print Issue 20-21

L E T T E R F R O M T H E
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI WA BARAKATUH
(MAY THE PEACE, MERCY, AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAH BE UPON YOU).
editor
in
chief
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
Behind every individual is a community shaping, teaching, supporting, and
inspiring one to become who we are today. For me, my community is my family.
I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by my loving parents, sister, and
cousins. We call ourselves the #BalochSquad. Every memory of my childhood is
etched by our bond-- be it stuffing into a car for a ride through the streets
of Downtown Sacramento or sharing laughs huddled around my grandmother’s
dining room table.
When I moved away from home for my first year at UCLA, I yearned to establish
my own community as I no longer had the comfort of my immediate family
near me. I wholeheartedly challenged myself to go out of my comfort zone
and say yes to all opportunities presented my way. The Al-Talib community,
in particular, provided me with a second family consisting of my closest
friends who always remain by my side whenever I feel a sense of emptiness or
loneliness amidst this fast-paced city and equally vast campus.
With this year’s annual print issue, the theme “Unity Amidst Uncertainty”
aims to reflect upon the essense of the Muslim community as the global
community dealt with immense loss since the eruption of the COVID-19
pandemic. For the first time, it seemed as if the entire world hit pause and
each corner of the world began to scramble to adjust to a new normal. Despite
the distance and chaos, the spirit of community failed to diminish.
I hope as you flip or rather -click- your way through this year’s magazine,
you are able to relate and feel a connection to the articles and photos. I
hope they rush in memories from the early quarantine days and force you to
ponder the unfortunate inequalities our fellow BIPOC communities continue to
face everyday.
Al-Talib always has and continues to remain an organization by Muslim
students for the general community. As you read through these pages, if you
are still searching for your community, I hope you find it here with us.
Happy reading!
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
FIZA BALOCH
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 2021
AL-TALIB NEWSMAGAZINE