“UoPeople Became My Lifeline to Knowledge,” Says Abdalkarem D., Computer Science Student

Based in Ghouta, Damascus, Syria, a region profoundly affected by years of conflict, Abdalkarem D. is currently earning his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at University of the People. Growing up amid destruction and uncertainty, he has remained determined to pursue an education and build a future shaped by possibility.

As the eldest of three siblings, Abdalkarem grew up in a family that valued resilience and learning. His grandfather has become an important source of guidance for him since the loss of his grandmother during the war.

During long power outages, Abdalkarem and his grandfather often sit together by candlelight, listening to stories about Syria’s history and lessons drawn from his grandfather’s life experiences. Those moments have shaped Abdalkarem’s understanding of education and perseverance.

“My grandfather often tells me, ‘They can bomb our streets, but never our minds.’ His words continue to fuel my determination to study, even in the most challenging times,” Abdalkarem says.

From an early age, Abdalkarem excelled in mathematics and statistics and developed a strong interest in programming and computer science. But the war and its impact on Syria’s education system made it difficult for him to access opportunities to study the field he was passionate about.

His search for a way forward eventually led him to UoPeople.

“I chose to study at UoPeople because it gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream field—computer science—which my war-torn country couldn’t provide,” he explains. “UoPeople became my lifeline to knowledge.”

The university’s online and asynchronous format has been particularly important to Abdalkarem. Power outages and other challenges can make studying difficult, but the flexibility allows him to continue his coursework when circumstances permit.

“Every online lecture feels like reclaiming the future that war tried to take from me,” he says.

He also values being part of a global classroom where students from different countries and backgrounds can learn from one another. For Abdalkarem, these interactions provide not only opportunities to exchange knowledge but also to gain new cultural perspectives.

As he progresses through his Computer Science degree, Abdalkarem is developing programming and problem-solving skills that he hopes to apply to real-world challenges. He is particularly interested in technologies such as Python, Java, and databases, as well as the collaborative skills needed to work with teams across borders.

After graduation, he hopes to work remotely for an American technology company and eventually pursue a master’s degree in Computer Science in the United States through a scholarship.

But his ambitions extend beyond his own career. Abdalkarem hopes to use his technical skills to develop Arabic-language educational technology for young people affected by conflict and limited access to education.

“I want to master this field completely, not just for personal advancement, but to develop solutions that can help rebuild my community and make meaningful contributions to our global society,” he says.

For Abdalkarem, education has become a way to transform difficult circumstances into something constructive. Each lesson and every line of code represents another step toward a future he once could not imagine.

From studying by generator power in Ghouta to dreaming of contributing to global technology teams, Abdalkarem is determined to use education to create rather than mourn, build rather than despair, and turn adversity into opportunity.

His journey reflects a powerful belief that circumstances may shape a person’s path, but they do not have to determine where that path leads.