Hodari Yusef II
Writer, researcher, oldest of seven, and generally advocating for a better world through policy and writing.
Projects
Bruin Reflection Space
So thankful to the generations of people who helped make this project possible. Being invited back to UCLA as a speaker for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Bruin Reflection Space is a testament to all of the work my team and I did when I was external vice president of the MSA. The goal with any of my work is to produce a lasting charity for the generations that come after me.
During my first year at UCLA the muslim community prayed behind Kerckhoff Hall—fighting for space in-between foot traffic and parked vehicles. So blessed to see a dedicated, enclosed space for prayer that gives the Muslim community a deeper sense of belonging on campus. The truth is I inherited this project, and bringing it to a completed point was only possible with the help of those who came before me. With that same sentiment, I'm handing this project off to the next generation so that they might take this checkpoint and be innovative in their next steps.
I remember having conversations with my board about how USC has a masjid within walking distance and UCLA's closet masjid is a 30 minute drive away. Excited to see how this project continues to grow, and I love where I was able to help take it.
Thanks again to Michael (Mick) Deluca, @Bart Loos, Suhail Mulla, Hasan Mirza, Najia Saleem, and so, so many more.
Photo Credit: Don Liebig, ASUCLA
What it’s like to spend more than a year studying for the LSAT
The higher your LSAT score, the greater chance you have of getting the best scholarships to what could easily be a 300 thousand dollar degree. In a field propagated by prestige and connections, the LSAT is also responsible — seemingly — for your future career as it is weighed heavily in determining what law schools you might get into. A high LSAT affects the amount of debt you bear and your access to the legal world, but those benefits aren’t always immediately noticed. At reunions with friends or at family gatherings, I’m at the same place I was last year, not yet a lawyer… not yet in law school.
I usually get asked why I want to be a lawyer, and after a year of studying for an admissions test I assume these questions are more to the tone of, “Are you sure this is what you want to do”? My response is always the same...
Articles
I graduated from UCLA three months ago. Here’s where I am now.
Academia is its own bubble. For four years I would walk to class feeling safe and secure surrounded by the grandeur that existed within campus walls. The hills are laid with brick stairs, the buildings tall, wide, and all brick, and the lawns are perfectly maintained. It’s easy to feel like you’re apart of something big when your school is brimmed with wealth and everything feels exclusive.
So then, where am I three months after graduating from the #1 public university in the nation? It feels as though I am exactly where everyone else is — not yet benefiting from the UCLA name on my degree...
How To Tell a Muslim Girl That You Like Her
Unless you’re familiar with my religion, the dating culture in Islam can feel like it’s loaded with rules and boundaries that are hard to navigate. It’s our responsibility as Muslim men to lower our gaze when ladies walk past us. There are no friendly hugs with the opposite gender, no vulnerable moments alone, and no easy way to justify a dm or prolonged glance in her direction.
You tell a Muslim girl that you like her by stating the following...
About Me
Hodari Yusef graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a degree in Public Affairs. He also holds associate degrees in English and Political Science from El Camino College. He is a husband, son, and older brother to six siblings. Currently, he is preparing to apply to law school for the 24-25 application cycle as he aspires to make changes in policy and law for the communities he represents.
