Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

In early May, he received acceptance letters from: Columbia, UPenn, Rice, Duke, Vanderbilt, NYU, Howard, the University of Virginia, Northwestern, the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Williams College, Swarthmore College, and Haverford College.

This fall, Gebril will join Columbia University’s Class of 2027 as a John W. Kluge Scholar. The scholarship is awarded to only 50 applicants. He will also enter as a Gates Scholar, which has a roughly 1% acceptance rate. His Columbia acceptance letter and scholarships go further than a “mere affirmation of my personal growth.”

“It encapsulates the essence of America itself,” said Gebril. “A beacon of hope, a platform for opportunities, and the manifestation of dreams.”

A self-identity journey

Gebril is a second-generation Egyptian-American and views himself as fortunate to be part of “two rich and diverse cultures.”

“My childhood blended attending school, playing basketball, and indulging in classic American pastimes while coming home to the familiar aroma of Egyptian cuisine, the sounds of Arabic music, and engaging in deep-rooted traditions,” said Gebril.

He describes his journey as, at times, like “a tightrope walk.” The urge to choose between his American lifestyle and Egyptian heritage was present during his childhood.

Over time, he’s acknowledged how his identities complement each other. “I started to see myself less as American or Egyptian and more as an American-Egyptian,” said Gebril. “This transformation has allowed me to appreciate the unique perspective that my dual heritage provided.”

“I learned to savor my mother’s homemade koshari while enjoying a good old-fashioned American barbecue,” he continued. “I could understand American authors’ wisdom and enjoy Egyptian poets’ lyrical prose.”

That self-discovery extended outward to his community.

“It has given me a broader worldview [and] instilled in me the ability to understand and respect diversity,” said Gebril. “Most importantly, it has taught me to appreciate the beauty of a shared human experience beyond geographical and cultural boundaries.”

Overcoming Obstacles

What was your greatest obstacle in high school? How did you overcome it?

Emely Mata: A tricky friendship or relationship. I realized that you don’t need that in high school because you start with a certain amount of people talking to you and, at the end, you end up with like two to three friends.

Ceasar Diaz: Definitely my confidence in myself. I was able to overcome it by doing certain sports and working on my speaking skills with people. I also realized that I cared too much about what people thought and if I just stopped caring, things would change.

Michelle Marin: Adjusting to my online classes during sophomore year. Doing school during a pandemic was a challenge for me because I have learned that I function better when I have the work laid out in front of me and where I can interact with my teachers and with my classmates. Sooner or later, I had to overcome it and had no other choice but to adapt to it. It was a challenge to stay focused at home, but I learned to discipline myself. It taught me a lot about myself.

Hisham Ettayebi: During the pandemic, I was struck with anxiety and OCD, which tremendously impacted my life. I am still overcoming it, but I have come a long way. I was able to get this far because of my mom, the self confidence that I gained from school and Track/ XC, but most importantly, as a Muslim, I put my faith in God. He has helped me tremendously and is always helping get through everything.