If Allah wills it, Hakeema Abdul Latif would be able to realize her dream of studying medicine at a leading medical school in the United States or Canada. The 18-year-old is confident her grades can get her past university admissions. But after a few conversations with friends, she is convinced her name could get her the wrong kind of attention if she ever decided to study abroad.

"I'd like to experience studying medicine somewhere else, in a different environment but I don't have intentions of applying for a US visa. I just prefer not to... not to be, you know, you hear all the stories about being randomly selected for extra searches. I don't like all that stereotyping and stuff," the St George's College upper-sixer said.

Being singled out in a public place as a matter of security concerns is something she keeps at the back of her mind when her thoughts wander to being a resident at John Hopkins University. She finds it hard to imagine herself a security threat.

Her Arabic name, unfortunately, easily singles her out from a list of travelers or candidates vying for a place at a university.

So she trusts divine providence to make the decision for her. The medical programme at UWI is also good, from what she's heard. She reminds herself  of this fact to lessen the blow of rejection, if it ever comes.

Added to the security measures after 9/11 and following the attempted bombing of a US-bound plane on Christmas Day, the American Transportation Security Administration has identified countries where travellers to the US will face extra screening. All of the countries listed have a significant Muslim population.

Anwar Baksh, secretary of the UWI Islamic Society believes it is only a matter of time before Muslims in T&T will be subject to similar scrutiny from US authorities. The second year student said it was the key reason he had not applied for a US visa to study outside of Trinidad.

"Have you seen what my name is?"

Rather than risk being denied, he said, he's looking to Canadian universities when the time comes to do his master's degree.

He said incidents like the one on Christmas Day only further promotes the stereotype that people with Arabic names are involved in terrorism.

The pride he feels in his name and identity as a Muslim youth does not diminish his fears of discrimination should he venture outside local shores.

Facial hair, Muslim grab and an Arabic name are outward signs of his faith for which he is unwilling to apologize.

"I know if I travel I won't get hold for anything but I feel very offended that my name and religion could single me out. It clearly shows there isn't equity for all," Baksh said.

This is one reason Shamirah Hosein, from St Augustine Girls' High hopes to enter UWI after she writes her Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in June.

Clothing and headdress are two things that limit her aspirations to travel, she said. The hijab she wears is often misinterpreted as a terrorist badge, much to her dismay.

The teen said studying locally will keep familiar comforts like friends and family close, and avoid the distraction of uncomfortable stares from unfamiliar faces. It isn't part of the university life she wants to experience.

Without the head covering, Tammica Wahid Ali, an ASJA Girls fifth-former, does not experience the sting of religious profiling. But at an airport, she fears, that will depend on whether immigration officials find her surname looks more 'suspicious' than she does.

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