Name: Atak Yai (Tick-Tock)
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Sudan, Africa
Involvements/Interests: I am left-midfield/left-forward on the varsity soccer team, hanging out with friends, supporting the Blazers at sporting events, going to movies
Atak Yai (a.k.a Tick-Tock) was born in Sudan, moved from Nairobi to Georgia to Mississippi to Alabama, all in persuit of a better education and for the love of soccer.
HC: How did you come to America/UAB?:
AY: I lived in Nairobi and me and my brothers and my sister came to the process of coming to America. Our family wanted us to have a better education. I played soccer for the Fugee team in Atlanta…which is a team that supports players from different war-stricken countries. After that I moved to Mississippi for high school. One of my teammate’s from a club soccer team in Mississippi recommended that I come to UAB.
HC: How is life different here in US from Africa?
AY: In Africa, everything you do is a struggle. Here, everything is simple and I don’t struggle. Everything is given to you here, and I feel like a lot of Americans take advantage of that.
HC: What’s your favorite part about UAB?:
AY: I just love everything here, everyone here is really cool, and I made a lot of friends.
HC: So I hear that the Freshman reading was about your Fugee team? Tell me about that.
AY: It was about how The Fugees tried to teach kids soccer and about a better life. A few people came up to me and said “I read about you in The Outcasts United”.
HC: How do you respond when people say they’ve heard your story.
AY: I ask them their favorite part!