US student paves way as among first Muslims to wear a hijab at graduation

On why being among the "first" matters, Shalabi says: 'No one should be discouraged because they don't see a space for them in a particular field.' Photo:Unsplash/Satria SP

Downstairs in the University of Washington's law library, student Malak Shalabi often found herself walking by class photos from years past. In the school's early days, virtually every face staring back was white. Most were men.

"There aren't many Muslim people. Period," said Shalabi, 23. And,"throughout the years, I (didn't) see a single (law school) graduate who was wearing a hijab. That's kind of when it clicked for me."