A Columbia woman tells how she converted to Islam

Jessica Fay is a Columbian collage student who has become a Muslim, and she wears the hijab, the Islamic veil that covers a woman"s hair. She said there are many reasons she likes wearing the veil. "I feel more a sense of respect and dignity from that …” she explains.

Fay says that what drew her to Islam was the praying and loves taking time out of her day to pray.

For the past two years, Fay has taken baby steps to become a Muslim. She performed the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to help her transition, and since she returned to America wearing the hijab, she has experienced support and curiosity.

Fay wants to be a good representative of her religion, “I wear hijab and I don"t want to misrepresent my religion” she says and continues: "I hope to educate them in a way, if only to show that I"m not oppressed by my hijab... I want to educate, but I"m not going to pressure anyone."