Yip Harburg Lyric Foundation Scholarship
Mira
Rhode Island School of Design
Mira, a new student at the Rhode Island School of Design, spent the first 12 years of her life in Turkey before moving to the U.S. to pursue her passion for the arts. Raised in a family of musicians, Mira has always felt drawn to creative expression and has now begun her journey at the RISD, her dream institution. Mira plans to major in painting and later pursue a master’s degree that deepens her expertise in the field, with a goal of becoming a professional artist.
Mira’s secular identity has been shaped by her experiences growing up in Turkey, where she was required to take mandatory religion classes focused solely on Islamic teachings for six years. She believes this curriculum deprived students of religious freedom and failed to reflect the diversity of beliefs in the world. Mira believes that her peers should have the freedom to explore various faiths through optional courses, rather than being forced to study Islam for the standardized university exam. Her frustration with the limitations of this curriculum fueled her activism from an early age. She joined protests alongside educators and fellow students, advocating for the government to make these classes optional, include courses on other religions, and create a more inclusive curriculum. Although the issue remains unresolved, her activism has solidified her commitment to secularism.
Having lived in both Turkey and the United States, Mira’s perspective has been broadened by meeting people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. These experiences have reinforced her belief in the importance of promoting a secular government that protects religious freedom for all, ensuring individuals have the right to practice or abstain from religion. On and off-campus, Mira continues to support initiatives that foster understanding of different beliefs and encourage tolerance in diverse communities.
Beyond secular activism, Mira is also involved in intersectional activism. In 2020, she joined protests in Turkey against the lenient sentences given to men who committed acts of domestic violence. Feeling threatened by these judicial decisions, Mira stood in solidarity with women across the country, raising awareness about the dangers women face and advocating for justice. This intersection of gender and social justice is central to her activism, as she strives to create a safer, more equitable world.
FFRF thanks the Yip Harburg Lyric Foundation for this scholarship geared to a student in the arts.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with 40,000 members across the country. Our purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
The Secular Student Alliance is the only national organization dedicated to atheist, humanist, and other nontheist students. It empowers secular students to proudly express their identity, build welcoming communities, promote secular values, and set a course for lifelong activism.
