51吃瓜

Moving from Cairo, Egypt, to Halifax to study in Dalhousie鈥檚聽Faculty of Computer Science聽was a big adjustment for Seif Elbayomi (BCS鈥�24). Not only was the weather (a lot) colder, but culturally and academically, he had a lot to learn. Thankfully, learning is something Elbayomi is very good at.

Now he鈥檚 graduating with a聽Bachelor of Computer Science (Co-operative Education). He also completed a聽Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation聽and earned Sexton Distinction by achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher. He鈥檚 also recently won the 2024 Digital Nova Scotia One to Watch Award for emerging talent from an underrepresented community who is making waves in the tech industry.

Such a high achiever could study anywhere in the world, but Elbayomi chose Dal. 鈥淲hat drew me to Dal was the tech sector in Atlantic Canada and the growth I saw happening here,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat, plus the feedback I found online about how Dal鈥檚 Computer Science program is always evolving; they鈥檙e not just teaching the same old courses year after year. They鈥檙e actively improving, keeping things relevant.鈥�

"I found online how Dal鈥檚 Computer Science program is always evolving; they鈥檙e not just teaching the same old courses year after year. They鈥檙e actively improving, keeping things relevant."

To Elbayomi, it felt like an exciting opportunity to be in a place where tech talent and innovation were being prioritized.

While at Dal, Elbayomi thrived on the theoretical aspect of his education. 鈥淥ne course that sticks with me is the History of Computer Science,鈥� he remembers. 鈥淟earning the backstory of how the field evolved gave me a deeper appreciation for the discipline.鈥�

He credits all his instructors for having a significant impact on his studies and is particularly grateful to Dr. Alex Brodsky for teaching him about leadership and mentorship in addition to computer science. 鈥淒r. Brodsky had this way of not just teaching the tools but diving into the theory behind them, which really clicked with me,鈥� he says.

Ever the hard worker, Elbayomi is graduating with a full-time job at聽聽as a software developer for VTScada. He helps design and implement digital solutions, which he describes as challenging but rewarding work.

Moving on from Dal is bittersweet for Elbayomi. He will miss the sense of community he felt on campus, the lectures and lively discussions that often followed, and working with students as a TA. He鈥檚 confident, though, that his studies prepared him for what鈥檚 ahead: 鈥淢y time at Dal really broadened my perspective and gave me a more well-rounded understanding of what it means to be a computer scientist.鈥�

This story appeared in the聽DAL Magazine Fall 2024聽issue. Flip through the rest of the issue using the links below.