Fifty-two seconds remaining. “Let me help you write the logic statement,” I told Omar, our team leader. "I don't need your help; I’ll figure it out," he snapped. I didn’t reply; I never could—my courage always seemed to fail me. I kept justifying his anger in my head: He was acing the economics challenges, so don’t think too much about it. I always contained my anger this way—this was just another day. I politely requested...

Hearing from distinguished speakers like Professor Mahmoud Mohieldin at the model COP27 conference in October 2022 truly opened my eyes to the serious challenges our environment is facing. I was inspired by the passion of students eager to make a difference and the genuine efforts currently being made. Realizing that addressing these issues requires collective action, I looked into volunteering options—but all I found were countless shady websites. Contacting organizations directly was tedious, so I thought about how technology can...

Growing up, I've always wondered how a programmer designed a programming language to program a program to program programs. From designing algorithms to building systems, programming turns abstract concepts into tangible solutions. During my first international hackathon, I developed a project that raises awareness for and discusses solutions to protect endangered Tapirs from roadkill, which earned me 4th place. Watching the project help drivers in high-risk areas, I felt a genuine sense of accomplishment. Coding could be more than writing...

“How many more wake-up calls do we need? Entire regions becoming unlivable. Global supply chains under strain. People forced to relocate.” Listening to Professor Mohieldin and other distinguished speakers during the COP27 simulation truly opened my eyes to “the greatest existential threat humanity faces today.” I was inspired not just by the students' dedication, but also by the genuine efforts underway. Determined to act, I looked into volunteering options, but only found random Facebook pages and shady Arabic websites. Imagine...

When a friend from Malaysia approached me to participate in an international hackathon, I was initially hesitant. Then, Mr Mike—my computer science teacher from Malaysia—explained how hackathons could improve my problem-solving skills and let me tackle real-world issues. I decided to give it a shot. And then the 36-hour grind began: relentless coding and frustrating unanswered texts from 3AM. Our project, Stop Tapir Roadkill Initiative, focused on protecting endangered Malayan Tapirs from roadkill by drawing attention to the...

Imagine scrolling through piles of Facebook pages and shady websites written in Arabic, desperately searching for a volunteering opportunity, only to feel more lost than before. This frustration was my reality and sparked an idea—Connectree. Reaching out to organizations was tedious, so the volunteer community needed a more efficient and centralized system to prevent potential volunteers from feeling discouraged. I realized that if I wanted to make a difference, I had to be the one to create it. I...

Imagine scrolling through piles of Facebook pages and shady websites written in Arabic, desperately searching for a volunteering opportunity, only to feel more lost than before. This frustration was my reality and sparked an idea—Connectree. Reaching out to organizations was tedious, so the volunteer community needed a more efficient and centralized system to prevent potential volunteers from feeling discouraged. I realized that if I wanted to make a difference, I had to be the one to create it. I...

In summer 2022, I was searching online for volunteering programs—but all I found were countless shady websites. Realizing that technology can bridge gaps in opportunity, I co-founded Connectree, a platform that connects volunteers with NGOs in Egypt. At Purdue, I'm excited to deepen my understanding of computer science and its role in social impact through courses like “CS 30700 Software Engineering I,” which introduces essential methods and tools to develop effective software solutions. Building on this foundation, “CS 47300 Web Information Search...

Dear Roommate, I can't wait to start this Stanford adventure with you! Here’s to hoping you won’t throw my laptop out the second-floor window of Wilbur by finals! I’m a tennis addict, so I might end up waking you at 2AM while celebrating Djokovic—the GOAT—winning Wimbledon. But hey, that's the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your boxing skills and knock me to sleep! What sports do you enjoy? If you don't like racket sports,...