Abdel was raised in Chad by his grandmother until the age of 15, then he moved to the United States along with his three brothers, to live with his uncle. He knew little to no English, but started attending Carroll Middle School a few weeks after moving. Abdel talks about navigating through being unable to communicate with his classmates at first, and using sports to find common ground and make friends.
Now he’s 23 and recently graduated from Purdue University Fort Wayne with a degree in physics. Abdel is exploring whether he should stay in the United States or move back to Chad, but either way he wants to find a job that’s not just about the paycheck. He, much like his grandmother, is always looking for a way to give back.
Abdel and host, Ahmed Abelmageed, talk about how college changed the way he studied his Muslim faith, the importance of keeping an open mind when talking about immigrants and race and the impact his grandmother had on his life and his personality.