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Mahmoud El-Fouad's avatar

My ALX Journey: A Story of Resilience and Growth

It has been a long and emotional journey, filled with countless ups and downs. It all began on February 20, 2022. Back then, I had never even heard of ALX. I was part of a 10-member team, and they recommended that I apply. They encouraged me to take the leap—and I did.

When I first looked into ALX and saw the commitment it required—70 hours per week—I hesitated. I told my friends I wasn’t sure I could dedicate that much time. But they continued to support and motivate me. Eventually, I applied and started the program.

At first, I made a big mistake: I tried to get by by copying and pasting solutions from YouTube videos. This approach backfired. I missed the first month’s deadline and only scored 50%. But even then, I gained something far more valuable—knowledge and exposure to things I had never heard of before. I began to feel the real value of this journey.

Unfortunately, I faced a tough period in my personal life. Over the next six months, I experienced multiple breakdowns and had to defer. But I never forgot about ALX. One day, an old friend reached out and told me he was starting over again. That inspired me. I decided to return and give it another shot.

By that time, all 10 of my original teammates had dropped out. But I had already tasted the value of ALX, and I wouldn’t stop. I realized something important: no one will stand with you forever, except God and yourself.

Thanks to an incredible team that I now consider family, I powered through the next six months in one go. Then, after a one-month breakdown and another deferral (C20), I completed another six-month sprint.

Alhamdulillah, I’m here now—grateful and proud. I’ve just landed my second freelance job as a full-stack developer. I owe a huge part of this growth to the ALX SE and ALX AI Starter Kit Program. It didn’t just help me learn—it transformed me and strengthened my presence as a software engineer.

Thank you, ALX. ❤️

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