Reporter and Senior Abdulsalam Alli kicks in the door of his third year in the newly named “Rosette” Media, but this time as Photo Editor. Abdul likes to read, cook and bake, and listen to music (ignore the broken headphones). He loves fashion and enjoys accessorizing himself as much as possible. Abdul’s favorite part of the day is socializing with people. He’ll be there for you whenever you need him. He’s probably always the tallest, funniest, (and probably the loudest) guy you know. Even though he’s more obnoxious than when he started, he hopes to help the new staffers create a love for Newspaper just like he did when he first started.
Together forever:
Abdulsalam Alli adores his close bond with his siblings.
Reported by: Juliette Martinez
Throughout his darkest times he could always count on his siblings for support, even when they weren’t around. Eventually, throughout all their support he found himself, his passions, and how to deal with being alone.
Senior Abdulsalam Alli faced different challenges while dealing with his siblings leaving, but he learned many life lessons throughout the way.
“At first my siblings graduating and going to college didn’t really hit me,” Alli said. “My brother’s first year of college was at home because of COVID, but the second year when he left it really hit me. My older sister graduated high school when I was in eighth grade. That one hurt the worst, because I felt like I lost my friend. I wasn’t able to see her as much as I used to. We had always been close. We had been more than just brother and sister; we had been best friends. So it was really weird not having my best friend around.”
Alli had to face a handful of challenges which affected his relationships.
“I feel like it made me more self aware,” Alli said. “I didn’t really want to burden them with my issues. Because they have a lot more to worry about, so I didn’t want to be bothering them. It caused me to have a closer bond with my friends at school, being able to identify who I truly care about having a friendship with. Now I feel I’m closer to the people that I care about.”
Alli’s sister inspired him to change what he was doing wrong and look at life in a different perspective.
“I was going down the path of a really terrible person,” Alli said. “I was going towards being a misogynist. I was being really rude and disregarding people’s feelings and how they carried themselves. My sister made me realize what I wanted to be. She made me realize what I didn’t know about myself and what I wanted to change. She made me realize I am me and not the people around me or the successes and failures of others. That changed my view on myself.”
Alli shares a memory with his older sister that played a part in him knowing what he wants to do in life.
“Once when we were driving around my sister asked me what I wanted to do in life, but I didn’t know yet because I didn’t have any direction,” Alli said. “I just wanted to live day by day, so I didn’t really have a plan. She told me that she didn’t care what I wanted to do in life as long as I was passionate about it. Not to do it because other people are telling you to do it, and not because it makes a lot of money but making sure it was something I wanted to do with my life.”
Alli describes how he got out of his comfort zone and did different activities to stay out of the house.
“I felt by myself, even when I was at school or talking to my friends,” Alli said. “I felt like I was cooped up in a cage when I was at home because I was just existing. So my sophomore year I decided to just join everything. I signed up for extra classes in the summer and signed up for volunteer work. Literally every single day my sophomore year, I was out of the house. So I was just really lonely until I forced myself. My sister inspired me to get out of the house, and stop being a lame-o.”
Although his siblings weren’t around much for his childhood, he still keeps in touch with them now and has a close bond.
“Last year, all of us got together and had Thanksgiving,” Alli said. “It was fun just to talk to them on an equal level, talk to all of them at the same time. It’s rare that we ever get to all get together. So it felt really nice getting to be able to talk to them all at the same time, like I used to as a kid.”
Alli gives advice for others going through the same struggles.
“Just talk to them,” Alli said. “Call or text them even if they don’t answer. Because what’s worse than not trying at all is the fact that you could have but you didn’t. It can really be about the most random thing that’s your sibling. You’re supposed to be close with them.”
