Over the weekend of April 4th and 5th, students from South Brunswick High School’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) attended the Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament, also known as MIST. This year’s MIST NJ was held at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, bringing together students from across the state for a weekend of competition, creativity and connection. Centered around this year’s theme, “Current of Consequence,” MIST offered a variety of different programs, workshops and competitions designed to engage both Muslim and non-Muslim high school students.
MIST allows teams from different schools to compete in a wide range of categories, including improv, debates, knowledge tests, short films and more. Students can participate in multiple events for a chance to earn points and awards for their school. The sports portion of the tournament takes place the weekend before, however awards are not announced until the closing ceremony. Teams also showcase their school spirit by creating original chants which adds to the high energy atmosphere. The weekend closes off with a lively closing and awards ceremony where teams are given trophies and medals to remember their wins by.
Behind the scenes, the event required months of preparation and constant adaptability. Planning begins as early as September/October, with organizers working for months to coordinate logistics. Even during the tournament, adjustments had to be made in real time. As one of the logistics chairs explained, “there was a lot of stuff that we had to improvise on the spot… but overall, everything turned out really nicely”
For organizers, seeing the event come together was both rewarding and emotional. Beyond the competitions, MIST also plays a large role in building community, giving students the chances to meet others from different schools and form connections and bonds that couldn’t be made elsewhere. An attendee shared “MIST is just something we can all enjoy and have fun with…. there’s no pressure” The SBHS team won numerous awards in various categories, including 2nd place in business venture and knowledge test. Their accomplishments show off the hard work and effort put in by the team.
As the weekend came to an end, the atmosphere inside the auditorium was loud and energetic, filled with cheers, chants and lots of excitement as students gathered for the awards ceremony. By the time the final awards were handed out, it was clear MIST was more than just a competition but a place where all could feel safe, connected and a sense of belonging. For the South Brunswick team, the weekend was not only a success in awards but it was also a great opportunity to represent the school and build a legacy that will hopefully be carried on for many years to come.
