We love catching up with our Selby Scholars. Sam Elnaggar recently graduated from the University of South Florida and took a moment to share his college experience and plans for the future. He recommends getting to know life outside of school, stepping outside of your comfort zone, and staying open.
Q: What was your favorite part of your college experience and what surprised you?
Sam: My favorite part of college was the connections I created throughout. Whether it was classmates, roommates, or professors, all relationships were ones to remember. I learned just as much from the conversations and experiences outside the classrooms as I did inside. Creating these connections gave me a set of relationships that I will carry forever.
What surprised me the most was the diverse social environment around the university. Coming from an ethnic background, I found it surprising and interesting how diverse the range of backgrounds and cultures was. This created a positive social dynamic and provided an opportunity to learn from others about their cultures.
Q: What recommendations do you have for other Selby Scholars to make the most of their college experience?
Sam: The biggest recommendation that I have for other Selby Scholars would be to balance their school work with their social life. Establishing this early is a key part of being successful and having fun simultaneously. In addition to this, I would recommend staying open to meeting new people, trying new things, and stepping out of your comfort zone.
Q: How did your participation in Selby Scholarship programs help shape your experience or support you in challenges and opportunities?
Sam: My participation in the Selby Scholarship programs truly shaped my college experience in many different ways. Firstly, the financial support allowed me to focus more on my education and stress less about affording school. That stress being eliminated gave me the freedom to focus on other elements of schooling and social life.
Furthermore, throughout my college journey, the Selby Foundation provided several luncheons and mentor programs that included information on stress management, academic and social balance, and several important life attributes. These programs gave me a sense of security that I always had a support system behind me. When going through challenges, knowing that there was a group of people always there to help made a huge difference.
Q: Tell us about where you are working now and what the role means to you.
Sam: Following graduation, I decided to take a gap year to prepare myself for a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. I recently began working at a Physical Therapy clinic in Sarasota as a Physical Therapy Technician. This specific role means a lot to me because it is teaching me a lot about the field of Physical Therapy. Gaining extra knowledge and understanding the methods of patient care has given me the motivation needed to enter the field. I plan to continue working here for the rest of my gap year, as I prepare to apply to several universities.
Whatever his next steps look like, we know Sam will be successful. Cheers to you, Sam!