No. 1 Aya Abdelaty --From Curious Student to STEM Innovator

Welcome to the first featuring of HER Network's blog "Share Your Story", today we're really excited to be featuring the story of Aya, a passionate high school student from Eygpt. Thank you to Aya to be willing to share her story with us, and if you find her story inspiring, please share it to your friends!

I’m Aya Abdelaty, a high school student at STEM School in Menoufia, Egypt. I never imagined I’d be writing about myself—not because I’ve achieved everything, but because I want anyone reading this to know: there’s no single path to success. Everything starts with a simple step, even if you don’t know where it leads.

Since childhood, I’ve always loved studying. I used to think grades were the only thing that mattered. No one around me ever discussed competitions, activities, or opportunities outside of academics. For a long time, I thought success meant achieving high scores and attending a prestigious university. That was it.

Everything changed when I discovered Egypt’s STEM high schools. I researched, asked questions, and felt like this could be my chance. I prepared for the entrance exam, and when the results came out, I ranked 15th in Egypt. That moment was a turning point—I finally felt that hard work pays off.

At STEM, everything was different. Each semester, we work on capstone projects to solve real-world problems as teams. I learned how important collaboration is and that every idea has potential—it might just need refining. Gradually, I started doing things I’d never imagined: presenting ideas, learning new skills, and stepping outside my comfort zone. I taught myself programming through online courses and practiced on platforms like Codeforces. I competed in the ICPC, qualifying for the second round in Egypt, and joined the Purple Comet Math Competition, where our team placed 7th nationally. These experiences taught me something valuable: you don’t need to be an expert to begin. Curiosity and effort matter more than knowing everything upfront.

Later, my school nominated me to lead the JTS team, which helps younger students prepare for the STEM entrance exam. We held online sessions, explained ideas, and answered questions. It felt meaningful, as if I were supporting students just like the version of myself who once needed guidance and didn’t know where to find it. One of the projects I’m most proud of is a smart cane for the visually impaired. It uses modern technology to help users navigate safely and independently. We competed in multiple events with this project, ranking 4th locally at ISEF out of 137 projects and winning 1st place at an engineering expo at Port Said University. We also published a research paper and were selected to represent Egypt at IEEE YESIST12 in Malaysia.

In addition to academics and projects, I became passionate about community service. I volunteered at 57357 Children’s Cancer Hospital, where I saw how even small acts of kindness can mean a lot. I also applied to and got accepted into programs like LaunchX (MIT), Yale Young African Scholars, and Star Girls Africa, all of which helped me discover more about myself and my passions.

Driven by my love for programming, I founded “Speak in Codes,” a free initiative where I teach high school students how to code. I wanted others to have the opportunity I once wished for.

I’m not writing this as someone who has it all figured out. I’m still learning, still growing. But one thing I now believe with all my heart is this: you don’t need to understand everything from the start—you just need to want to learn.

Success isn’t about speed; it’s about direction. It’s about knowing how to breathe, pace yourself, and stay true to your purpose. Be that person. Know your goals, and move toward them with patience and persistence. And if you’re unsure where to start, ask yourself one simple question: “How can I learn?”

That question can open more doors than you ever imagined.

Thanks for reading :)

If you want to connect with Aya, feel free to connect with her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aya-abdelaty-60683728a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app