Alishba Zia

“I hate when people say ‘I wonder what everyone will think.’ People are always going to say something, so I just live for myself.

I wasn’t always like that, though. When I was younger, I used to be really quiet and sensitive. I would keep to myself in fear of being judged by others, which made it hard for me to start wearing a hijab. In third grade, I wanted to start trying to wear it, but I never did. There was this one group of boys in my class who had made fun of me for the food I brought in for lunch, and I thought that they would also make fun of me if I started covering my hair. It wasn’t until fourth grade that I began to wear it, when I realized that it was okay to be different.

Now, in high school, I’m still focusing on myself and what I want. I would say that I’m really independent. I’m a first generation student. My parents didn’t grow up in the American education system, so they don’t understand everything I have to do. I have an older sister who has been able to help me, but other than that, I’ve had to mature quickly and learn to advocate for myself. In junior year, that can be hard, because things are already so overwhelming. I feel like no matter how much I do, there’s always something else. So, sometimes it can be sad to see my peers with really involved parents. But, I know that in the long run, I’ll be prepared to handle challenges.” (November 2022)

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July 2024 Update from November 2022 Interview

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"I’m going to Stony Brook University in the fall, and I feel very curious about the future. Towards the end of senior year, I felt like I had outgrown high school and was ready to move on. I really want to go to college, yet at the same time, I’m very nervous. I’m the first in my family to go away and dorm at college. It’s a pretty big deal because most people in my family commute to college and then only go away if they pursue a higher degree. I’m very family-oriented, so it’s a big challenge to leave my family. They’re all really proud of me and have encouraged me in school, but it’s still hard and I want to continue helping them even when I’m away. I keep reminding myself to feel grateful for all of my love and support."