"You have to be a lot more conscious about your morals at GW," said Murphy, who said he is considering entering the priesthood. "No sex before marriage, don't go out and party hard."
A member of the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal organization for Catholic males, Murphy said he eases the pressures of college temptations by surrounding himself with friends who uphold morals similar to his own.
"It's harder when you first get here, but when you have a group of friends facing the same challenges around you, it's a lot easier," Murphy said.
Saif Inam, a junior, prays five times a day, does not eat pork and does not drink or go clubbing. As a practicing Muslim, Inam also strives to make his religion a part of his everyday routine.
"It's almost a way of life, so hopefully everything I do is a reflection of that," said Inam, who is president of the Muslim Student Association.
Freshman Dana Elmaghrabi also works to incorporate Allah into her daily activities as a Muslim at GW. Elmaghrabi has found GW to be very supportive of her faith and has become more religious at GW than she was at home.
"Islam is calming at times; I think it's just this positive force in my life," Elmaghrabi said. "I feel like I'm doing better now that I've become more religious."
Inam was raised as a Sunni, the largest denomination of Islam, but he does not like to associate himself with any group in particular.
"I don't go around saying I am a Sunni Muslim, because that just causes division and our similarities are a lot greater than our differences," Inam said.
For freshman Azra Ali Hyder, who is from Saudi Arabia, being a Muslim is not about denominations.
"Muslim is a brotherhood, a sisterhood. I love it," Hyder said. "I love how in Islam there is never an intermediary between you and God … its just you and God and no one else."
Melissa Stern, a junior who said she plans to become a Presbyterian minister, incorporates religion into her everyday life in less conventional ways.
A member of the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal organization for Catholic males, Murphy said he eases the pressures of college temptations by surrounding himself with friends who uphold morals similar to his own.
"It's harder when you first get here, but when you have a group of friends facing the same challenges around you, it's a lot easier," Murphy said.
Saif Inam, a junior, prays five times a day, does not eat pork and does not drink or go clubbing. As a practicing Muslim, Inam also strives to make his religion a part of his everyday routine.
"It's almost a way of life, so hopefully everything I do is a reflection of that," said Inam, who is president of the Muslim Student Association.
Freshman Dana Elmaghrabi also works to incorporate Allah into her daily activities as a Muslim at GW. Elmaghrabi has found GW to be very supportive of her faith and has become more religious at GW than she was at home.
"Islam is calming at times; I think it's just this positive force in my life," Elmaghrabi said. "I feel like I'm doing better now that I've become more religious."
Inam was raised as a Sunni, the largest denomination of Islam, but he does not like to associate himself with any group in particular.
"I don't go around saying I am a Sunni Muslim, because that just causes division and our similarities are a lot greater than our differences," Inam said.
For freshman Azra Ali Hyder, who is from Saudi Arabia, being a Muslim is not about denominations.
"Muslim is a brotherhood, a sisterhood. I love it," Hyder said. "I love how in Islam there is never an intermediary between you and God … its just you and God and no one else."
Melissa Stern, a junior who said she plans to become a Presbyterian minister, incorporates religion into her everyday life in less conventional ways.
