I’m from Gaza and I got a remote software internship in Boston: Here’s how I did it and why it matters
I think it’s really important for computer scientists and engineers, especially those from Gaza, to know all the opportunities that exist to progress in your career. And to make progress, despite the biggest obstacles, like the war and bombing we just went through in May. This is my story of how I overcame challenges, I hope it inspires you to follow your own dreams, whatever they are.
My journey into computer science
I was really lucky with my journey into computer science and programming. First, I had the support of my family. My father studied computer engineering. I am really inspired by him because he followed his interests and then he opened up his very own internet company here in Gaza.
Second, I solved over 200 FreeCodeCamp questions with Gaza Sky Geeks and attended an RBK bootcamp. Gaza Sky Geeks was inspiring — I just went through the application process but it gave me the confidence to go further. RBK was where I fell in love with MERN stack, especially Frontend.
Third, I studied Computer Systems Engineering, which allowed me to learn about both hardware and software, and gave me a really strong technical base. In my first year of college, I learned C and I was impressed by both the simple and the complex programs a programmer can do using such commands! Then I got to learn Java, HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
After graduation from RBK I joined Manara and it was one of the biggest experiences of my life. This was the fourth big step in my journey. The curriculum is very professional and it’s taught by people from Silicon Valley.
The program is in two phases — the learning phase and the job hunting phase. In the first phase, we refreshed technical concepts and improved our soft skills. The idea is to prepare for interviews with global tech companies. Jason, my mentor, works for Apple, and whenever I needed him he was there. At the beginning I was stressed because of all the mock interviews but Jason gave me solid encouragement and advice.
The second phase is job-hunting. Manara gave me referrals and I had a few interviews at really interesting companies. I feel really lucky that I not only got a really great internship at Multiverse, a gaming company in Boston, but I also got an interview at companies like CodeCov, where I met amazing people.
The war in Gaza
My time in Manara coincided with war. I’m 22 years old. I’ve lived through four wars and this last war was the worst of them all. My family lived in the middle of the Gaza Strip and the bombing was all around us. I didn’t expect to survive this — no one did to be honest. The first two days I managed to study for school, continued building my own website, and I stayed in touch with my recruiter at Multiverse. I thought things would stop soon, but it didn’t.
The days were horrifying and time was slow. At first I hoped the war wouldn’t delay my internship, but I told my recruiter that it might. Finally I realized I had no idea when the war would end so I asked if we could postpone it until I was safe. I wanted to make sure to show my appreciation for his patience. And I was determined to stick to the career plan I had before the war. My recruiter was so flexible and understanding, I had to reschedule a meeting twice, and he cared enough to wait until I was safe to meet.
Multiverse: my new internship
Multiverse is a gaming company based in Boston. The whole interview process was smooth. In the second interview, I made a game and I thought, wow if that’s what I can do in the interview, imagine what it will be like when I actually join the company! Eventually I got a great offer and decided to take it.
On my first day, I had to download the game. Imagine how cool that is! Downloading a game on your first day. I’m still getting used to the time difference, but the team is amazing and I’m learning a lot. The internship is three months long this summer. I want to learn as much as I can — I’m a real nerd when it comes to knowledge.
The Future and Hope
I know in the future I want to uplift my community and encourage people to take steps forward in their growth and personal development. The funny thing is, I found out about Manara because of Dalia’s story. Dalia was a mentor of mine at RBK. There is an ecosystem and community of support for engineers from Palestine, you just need to tap into it.
Manara is the last step on the chain — it helped me get the right skills to get a job I love. They help you figure out where you lack experience or skills and help you improve it. They never give up on you. And Manara students are brilliant, but also collaborative and loving. I’m still friends with everyone and want to be part of the community forever.
I moved to Egypt a month ago, after the ceasefire was announced, but I don’t think I will be here permanently. I will go back one day. My advice for the Gazans or anyone who went through the same struggle is to hold on, to achieve as long as you breathe. I wouldn’t say the trauma is healed but we are definitely trying to survive. We survive by going for opportunities and living our life — and I think that is why my story is important. Once we are given opportunities, so much more can happen.
I am only starting my journey but I am already enjoying my work and I am sure there’s much more to come.
