I believe Soliya was a different experience than most of the experiences I have had since starting university. Soliya was a time for self-reflection where we discussed several topics of our choosing like the impact of social media and stereotypes which are the two topics I enjoyed the most. Additionally, Soliya allowed me and others to gain a sense of responsibility and authority where we were in charge of what to discuss and how facilitators stood by to help ensure the flow of the conversation was maintained and to help soothe any awkward silences. 

What truly differentiated my Soliya experience from the everyday experience I encountered at university was the beautiful diversity. In my group, I encountered Palestinians, Americans, and even an Iranian stationed in the United Arab Emirates. As a result, due to the great diversity, my dialogue and discussions with these people from so many different cultures were enriching and very deep with everyone having their perspective on the matter. In contrast, at my university in Cairo, most people are from Egypt; thus, due to the lack of diversity, most people tend to have the same perspective. However, while participating in Soliya, I was able to understand and put myself in the shoes of people who do not have the same perspective as me and allow them to enlighten me on their invaluable experiences; specifically, in one of our sessions tackling stereotypes, the Iranian in my group discussed how beautiful Iran truly is outside the stereotypes of movies where Iranians are pictured with weaponry, which helped me see things from a different perspective. Consequently, in some topics like social media, I discovered that I had a lot more in common with my group from different backgrounds than I originally thought, despite the diversity; for example, we all used apps like Instagram and TikTok regularly further strengthening our connection to each other.

Moreover, through my time participating in Soliya and actively taking part in engaging discussions, I began to understand the type of communicator I was. I learned that I was an active communicator due to my enthusiasm and persistence to get my point across. Specifically, when someone was discussing the impact of social media and their habits, I immediately confronted them and asked further questions about their situation and even offered them advice on how to keep their social media addiction at bay. However, this enthusiasm as a communicator took time and trust to develop and was not immediately sparked when I was introduced to my group. Therefore, I believe that through participating more in discussions whether in my personal life or academic life, then I can learn to further enhance my communication skills to ensure that my thoughts are always heard and understood while also ensuring that I am an active listener who is always willing to hear what the speaker has to offer.

Nonetheless, there is more than what meets the eye when discussing my Soliya experience. At first, I found Soliya a little lackluster with dreadful continuous awkward silence with people I barely knew; this was quite challenging to endure. In the beginning, everyone was unknown to me and I was unsure what to expect, like I was exploring uncharted territory. But, as I started to attend more Soliya sessions I uncovered the beauty of Soliya. I began connecting with my fellow group members, as I listened intently to their beautiful heartwarming stories as I responded with my journey and experiences. As a result, this connection was the missing piece of the puzzle, and as soon as my group started to become close with each other we laughed endlessly while staying on topic and giving each other the spotlight. Therefore, gradually this became a wonderful learning experience for me, where I learned to never misjudge an event without giving it the proper time to allow it to blossom. Contrary to my first session, my group members dreaded the inevitable end of our last Soliya session knowing it was the last time we would see each other; but, we were content that we had a wonderful engaging experience in a stress-free environment.

In conclusion, my Soliya experience was a rollercoaster of emotions that began with anxiety and stress of the unknown and finished with a feeling of euphoria. I met new people from different cultures and backgrounds as they enlightened me about their knowledge and experiences, and then I returned the favor by doing the same. In addition, the engaging topics kept us on our feet as we thought for many minutes wondering what to say at the deep questions we were presented. As a result, I am greatly thankful for my Soliya experience and did not expect these four sessions to turn into such a luxurious and unforgettable experience.