Faith, family, friends, and community. These are the pillars that guide and support Asha Abdi’s life.

Born in Kenya to a Somali Muslim family, Abdi came to the United States in 2009 in the fourth grade. She started at Reiche Elementary and, like her older siblings, attended Lincoln Middle School. Her brother attended Deering High School, and her sister attended Portland High School, but it was decided that Asha would take the path less traveled–she’d go to Casco Bay High School.

“I really didn’t want to go there, but my mother decided that’s where I’ll go,” she said. “But she was right. I owe so much to Casco Bay. We were always reading out loud or giving presentations to members of the community. I learned so much, especially the senior quest project that we did in Millinocket. Seeing the problems of a community so different from what I was used to really opened my eyes and helped me decide what I wanted to do with my life.” 

Safia Ahmed is Abdi’s best friend. Both Somali Muslims, they’ve been sharing a similar dream of helping the immigrant community since graduating high school in 2019. They shared many undergraduate social work classes at University of Southern Maine (USM) and are both now in the Masters of Social Work program. The friends have counted on each other for the spiritual and cultural understandings that are essential to the community they hope to serve. 

Throughout high school Abdi worked with the immigrant community, volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club and with Opportunity Alliance. "Immigrants to Maine have such unique challenges. They’ve gone through so much to come to this country and also face a lot of mental health stigma, particularly among Africans. I plan to get my LCPC and help reduce that stigma so that people can find healing."  

“My faith is very important to me, and I’m so grateful to have the support of my family and the Somali community. They taught me to believe in the dream and not give up,” she said.  

“My older brother and older sister went to USM, and my younger sister just finished her freshman year there. There are ten children in our family. USM should be giving us a group discount!” she laughed.