Meet Nafeesa, one of our Big Sisters
“I felt like I never saw anyone who “looked like me” and therefore I didn’t believe a young hijabi Asian girl could even play sports.”
Meet Nafeesa, a 19 year old who stumbled across archery by chance.
Hiya! Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi, my name is Nafeesa and I’m 19 years old. I love sports and it’s been a big part of my life from a young age. I’ve been training in archery since I was 13 and in my last competition, I became West Midlands county champion. I enjoy swimming, badminton and taking exercise classes such as spin, just as a bit of fun and to keep myself active.
What was your experience with puberty like?
Changing in body shape meant I didn’t feel comfortable wearing tight clothing anymore. I have strong religious values and choose to cover my body and wear a headscarf, but as a young teen I felt very judged by my peers and even the coaches for not fitting the “look” of the team.
What advice would you give for someone going through puberty?
Sports is about making yourself feel comfortable so wear whatever makes you feel your best! Try and keep an eye out for other girls on your team who might be feeling isolated or upset, we should strive to boost each other up. Lastly, if you’re experiencing period pain it’s TOTALLY okay to just sit out when needed or do some more low-impact exercises.
If someone is new to exercise, what advice would you give them?
You don’t have anything to prove to anyone else, so go at your own pace and build up your activity levels in your own time.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with their confidence?
It’s a universal feeling to lack in confidence from time to time. Try and focus on all the great and positive things that make you YOU. If you’re feeling conscious over something that’s in your control, speak to someone, they may be able to help or ease your worry
What do you love most about exercise and sport?
Doing something that I enjoy that helps to improve my mood. Seeing friends and having that community is great too.
How does exercise and sport make you feel?
Feeling mentally and physically GOOD. There’s nothing quite like feeling exhausted but having that sense of accomplishment under your belt. It’s very empowering.
Has there been anything that’s made you not want to exercise or feel like you couldn’t?
Issues with feeling judged based on my clothing attire. Also, the lack of diversity in sports which meant I felt like I never saw anyone who “looked like me” and therefore I didn’t believe a young hijabi Asian girl could even play sports. There’s also the cost, a lot of sports weren’t financially feasible for me. Not wearing the right type of underwear. Even though my Mum was so open and honest about stuff like this, I still felt embarrassed to ask her “can I go and get a bra fitted because I don’t know my size”.
Start your journey
Ready to get started? Take a look at how Big Sister can help you navigate your journey through exercise and puberty with free resources and information on activities in your area.