Nada Galal

As the first in her community to study abroad on her own, Nada is more determined than ever to succeed and excel in everything she is involved in, which includes UC San Diego, the computer science field, and her family. The Eleanor Roosevelt College Computer Science major explains, “I am determined to do so because I want the decision to study abroad and get an education to be the catalyst for other girls in my community to set higher goals and pursue better educational opportunities.”

How did Nada choose to major in computer science when it wasn’t offered in high school? She took the AP computer science test, after having self-studied using a Harvard curriculum as her study guide. She scored a 5 on the AP test! “This was one of the highlights in my life because I proved to myself that 1) computer science is the major I want and am good at, and 2) I can be independent, so I can study abroad on my own.”

To balance out her rigorous computer science requirements, Nada is minoring in business and design. She has taken her lifelong passion for art and, through her UC San Diego design classes, has melded art into the world of cognitive design to boost her skills in computer science. Her other passion, teaching, has led her to become a tutor for a computer science class. She also successfully managed the 9-hour time difference, studying from home in Egypt last year during the pandemic.

How does Nada envision using her UC San Diego degrees? “I want to use my studying of computer science to help the world, especially underserved communities, to have easier daily lives, better access to essential services, and as a result enjoy life more. Using my design and business skills, I want to adjust and deliver technologies that are more popular in countries like the US and in the Middle East/North Africa region and communities in need.”