Growing up in Peoria, Ill., Illini cross country and track athlete Ayah Aldadah — an Arab American and Muslim woman — didn't always embrace her heritage. As a young girl, she didn't have many, if any, classmates or friends that shared a similar background or faith as her.
Throughout elementary school, middle school and high school, Aldadah didn't know how to show pride in her culture. She was never embarrassed of being Arab or Muslim; but, without friends that understood such a significant part of her life, she rarely talked about it.
"I've always been used to being the odd one out," Aldadah said. "I was lucky to have my twin sister with me, but I think most of the times, especially for people who are growing up in places like Central Illinois, you're almost always the single Arab in your class or with your peers. So I feel I've always been used to being singled out. And growing up, I kind of tried to hide that almost, tried to assimilate to other people's cultures."
It wasn't until Aldadah was out of high school that she really learned how to be proud and outspoken about her culture. After running cross country at Bradley University for two years, Aldadah transferred to Illinois, who originally recruited her out of high school.
While the Big Ten competition and Illinois' successful athletic programs led Aldadah to transferring, the diversity on campus was also a major factor. Both her older brother and sister graduated from the University of Illinois and Aldadah often visited them before she attended the school.
"Up to coming to U of I, it was a big problem for me trying to find diverse friends, not just a Arab American friends but even diverse friends, people of color," Aldadah said. "That wasn't really who I was friends with, just because it wasn't very prevalent in the schools that I was attending."
Still, she was singled out among her student-athlete peers. Aldadah is the only Arab identifying student-athlete on campus. When racing, Aldadah is often the only athlete wearing modest clothing and a hijab. But being at Illinois has changed how Aldadah responds to being singled out.
With Arab American Heritage month wrapping up, Aldadah has taken time to reflect how she has handled discussing and embracing her culture while at Illinois.
"I know there's a huge amount of representation campus wide, but through athletics, I definitely think I have a responsibility to educate people," Aldadah. "I love when my teammates ask me questions about my heritage and being Arab. I view it as kind of a responsibility to be a representation for my culture, and even sometimes my faith as well."
Being surrounded by other Arab and Muslim students on campus has allowed Aldadah to learn more about her own heritage. She said most of the Arab American students on campus come from the Chicago suburbs where there is greater diversity. Unlike Aldadah, they were around other Arabs or Muslims since they were children. When some of her new friends hear stories from Aldadah's childhood in Peoria, they can't believe some of the things she's dealt with.
Through these new friendships, Aldadah has learned to be more outspoken about her faith and culture. She has also learned how to teach people about her own culture in order to correct any incorrect assumptions or stereotypes about Arabs or Muslims.
Aldadah has been able to translate those lessons to her cross country and track and field teams. Because she is the only Arab American athlete on campus, she wants her teammates and coaches to learn from her and be curious so they can better understand her culture and identity.
"Seeing them on a day to day basis, and them knowing me throughout the years, and talking to me and meeting me. I feel even if I'm not explicitly talking about my Arab culture and my Arab heritage, they can learn about who I am as a person and the way that being Arab has shaped me. So I think they can come to those conclusions on their own. Just knowing someone who's Arab and saying,' oh, I saw this on the news, but that's probably not right or that's a little racist.' If they do, if they are unsure, then they'll ask me. I think that's kind of like the biggest thing that I can do."
As an Illini, Aldadah has only had positive experiences when discussing her culture and religion with her teammates, coaches or other student-athletes. Because there are a lot of misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims that often portray them in a negative light, Aldadah is quick to establish her willingness to be open with anyone.
Aldadah said one of the most common misconceptions is that being Arab and being Muslim are completely intertwined. Even though Aldadah identifies as both, she says they are two separate things.
But, not everyone outside her culture understands that which is why she enjoys educating people and allowing them to ask questions, no matter the context.
"I've tried to make myself as open of a person l as possible," Aldadah said. "I think that's why I've been able to join the teams I have joined and get to where I am today's because I've been open about having people ask me questions like, where are you specifically from? I'm Palestinian, so I think people asking me about that, or talking about silly questions like what's a wedding like to you guys, just things like that. They might not be profound political questions, but just little things like our favorite foods to eat or what do we do for Ramadan when that comes around to this month, that's happening right now."
Another reason Aldadah is so outspoken is she wants there to be an easier path for Muslim athletes to compete in sports. Growing up she learned not every sport or team is accommodating to girls choosing to wear a hijab and modest clothing. When she was younger, Aldadah felt it was nearly impossible to find a uniform she could comfortably wear that aligns with her and her faith.
Luckily, Aldadah was able to find that accommodation with track and field and cross country. Her older sister was also a runner and their high school's first hijabi-Muslim athlete. Aldadah said her sister paved the way for her to wear pants, long sleeves and a hijab, and feel comfortable about it.
Still, Aldadah rarely sees athletes who look and dress like her. In high school, Aldadah had to carry around a waiver at all meets that approved her clothing. She said those types of obstacles often push young girls or even boys who want to dress modestly away from sports.
By representing her heritage and faith at the Division I level, Aldadah hopes to help younger girls and boys have a simpler time competing in any type of sport and she's grateful Illinois has given her a platform to do so.
"I'm hopefully setting a good example for other future Muslim girl in the hijab that want to race and compete in the sport," Aldadah said. "And I think that's what helps keep me going, especially at the NCAA Division like level. I don't think Muslim girls wearing the hijab realize that's something that they can attain. So I think, the more I talk about it, the more like people can see me, I'm hopeful for I'm setting a future wave of Muslim girls and not even just Muslim girls who wear the hijab, but even just girls and guys, men and women who want to dress modestly in sport, can see that oh, if she's doing that, so can I."
