Egyptian student shares her heritage and thrives at GCSU
By Margaret Schell
J unior computer science major, Farah Dawood, of Behera, Egypt, wants to become a software engineer after she graduates from college. The international student is attending Georgia College & State University this fall semester.
“The technology skills we learn at GCSU apply to so many fields—from management to transportation applications,” she said.
Once Dawood receives her degree, she’d like to live and work in Egypt, Europe or the U.S.
She plans to use what she’s learned from Georgia College and apply them in her profession.
“We work in teams, so the experience here has improved my communication skills, taught me to be open to change and how to collaborate with a diverse group of people,” Dawood said.
The city in Egypt where Dawood’s from, Behera, means “lake.” It’s located about 45 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea. Egypt has a diverse heritage, culture and history.
“I love our heritage because Egypt has 27 different states—all with different cultures,” Dawood said. “Every government has its own heritage.”
When she came to Georgia College in August, Dawood had an exhausting, 30-plus-hour flight from Egypt to Atlanta. But Susie Ramage of the International Education Center immediately made her feel at home.
“Everyone at GCSU is so welcoming of international students,” she said. “It was like that from the first minute I got here.”
Outside of studying, she likes to immerse herself in activities with her friends.
“There are a lot of things to do here—clubs, activities and many places, like the library, to help us every day,” Dawood said. “Whether it’s doing my schoolwork or meeting new people, I enjoy belonging to these things.”
She can’t wait for the International Fest to take place Oct. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Front Campus.
“I want to show people exciting things about my country, like cultural diversity,” Dawood said. “Not only do we have many different types of nature, but each one of the 27 states has their own heritage from speaking different dialects of Egyptian Arabic to wearing different clothing.”
On her display table, Dawood will showcase statues and historical items from her home country. She’ll also display pictures of different places in Egypt to provide onlookers a new perspective of her country.
“Most people think I live in a desert, but my state is all about agriculture,” she said. “We have massive green areas. So, I want to display a new perspective of Egypt like our beautiful nature and attire.”
Dawood hopes to educate festival attendees about the beauty of Egypt. She wants to do this in case they’re thinking of visiting or moving there for study or work.
The festival “will be so much fun,” Dawood said. “I love exploring and experiencing the diversity of cultures at GCSU.”
Dawood has been pleased with Georgia College and has taken advantage of its “welcoming” environment. She belongs to the International Club, Computer Science Club and Women in Technology. Off campus, she participates in the IEC’s social outings, like roller skating and bowling.
She especially feels a sense of belonging in the International Club. It consists of students from other countries, as well as many American students.
“It makes me happy to see more and more American students in our meetings,” Dawood said. “They're curious to know about students from other countries. It fosters a bond between us.”
“GCSU gives me an opportunity to grow academically and personally,” she said. “I’ve also experienced different events and activities. Everyday there have been five or 10 events that I can go to. And that's fun, because you can go to clubs or meetings and make friends and have good times.”
Learn more about the Distinguish Pillar in our Imagine 2030 Strategic Plan