Introduction

As part of the Soliya Connect Program, I interviewed two of my friends from the American University in Cairo, Eman Raslan and Mohammed Salem. I asked them a simple question: What are the pros and cons of post-pandemic education in your country? Their responses were completely different, which surprised me and really made me flash back to that time. Eman’s answer was more direct and focused on the tools we used during the pandemic, like Zoom and Google Meet. She mentioned how learning became easier for some students, especially those living far from school. But she also pointed out the bad side, like how we missed real connection with teachers and friends, and how not everyone had internet or access to online learning. I related to what she said because I have felt those struggles at the same time in the same region. Mohammed’s answer was very different. He compared COVID-19 to a fire and talked about how people helped each other during the hard times. He focused more on how the pandemic changed the whole idea of education, not just the classes, but the social side of it. He said online learning took away the full experience of being a student, especially in subjects like science. Both interviews made me realize how one experience can be seen in totally different ways. It also helped me understand that education is more than lessons—it’s about people, emotions, and how we grow together.

Body 

Coming up with the interview question was honestly one of the hardest parts for me. As a group, it was really difficult because most of my teammates were not engaged or showing interest. I kept trying to get their ideas out by asking them follow-up questions, but they barely responded. After putting in a lot of effort and trying to lead the group, we finally agreed on one question: “What are the pros and cons of post-pandemic education in your country?” Even though it was a tough process, I learned a lot about how to ask meaningful and engaging questions. I also felt proud because our question ended up being used for the whole Group 9 and got a lot of positive feedback.. In addition, I was able to keep the conversation respectful and open. I think this is because I am an analytical person, I do not judge others quickly, and I am always open to hearing different sides or changing my own opinion if needed. One strategy I used in interviews was what I call the “key of silence.” I stay quiet without reacting right away, which makes the interviewee feel like they haven’t explained enough, so they continue talking and go deeper. But I also know not to overdo it, so they don’t feel uncomfortable. A moment that stood out to me was when I asked one of my groupmates something, and she replied, “I am not sure we’re even in the same group.” That honestly disappointed me because we were only three in the group. I expected better teamwork.

I would describe my role in the Soliya group as a “cautious talker.” I always try to choose my words carefully and speak in a way that respects everyone’s opinions. Even when I am sharing my views, I never clearly say that I agree or disagree with someone else; I just express my thoughts, and if someone pays close attention, they can probably figure out where I stand. This helped me feel very confident and comfortable in my role. I knew I was not offending anyone or putting their ideas down. Although we did not talk too much about our local communities in the group, I noticed sometimes there were misunderstandings or wrong ideas about my culture. One moment I remember clearly was during a conversation about women voting. Many of my classmates thought that Egypt does not give women the right to vote in presidential elections. I stepped in to kindly explain that this is actually a myth. As an Egyptian, I shared that all adults in Egypt, men and women, have the right to participate in elections. I made sure to speak respectfully and explain things clearly without making anyone feel bad. I believe this helped others understand more and made the conversation more accurate and fair.

Conclusion

Initially, when I first joined the Soliya program, I expected to make new friends and meet people from different countries. I was excited because I already knew most of my classmates, and I hoped the experience would help me connect with others. But unfortunately, my group was not engaging at all. It felt like most of them were only there because they had to be. The classroom environment also did not help. The facilitators asked questions that felt too fixed, and we were just supposed to give the expected answers. That did not really allow for effective conversations or personal opinions. However, I developed one very valuable skill: speaking in public without feeling anxious. I made sure to participate in all the topics we discussed, and over time I became more confident in expressing myself. As for the topics of diversity, dialogue, and global citizenship, I don’t think my views have changed much. I have traveled to 10 different countries, and I already have a good understanding of cultural diversity and how to communicate with people from different backgrounds. Honestly, the most difficult part of the experience was how boring the classes felt. The questions were often repeated but just worded differently, and the sessions were too long, two hours felt like too much. I would not recommend this program unless some changes are made. The sessions should be shorter at first and maybe include fun class activities or games to break the ice and make everyone more comfortable and involved.