Hailing from the diverse community of Queens, New York, Youssf Hegazy always knew he’d attend college. However, learning about QuestBridge expanded his idea of where his pathway could lead.

He first encountered QuestBridge as a high school student at the Academy of Finance and Enterprises in New York City. While his school provided a solid academic foundation, Youssf still felt unsure about college admissions. "We focused a lot on getting good grades but less on the college application process," Youssf explained. “I was ready to accept that I would just go to the nearest school.” He initially felt he had fewer options as he was on his own financially for college, but his breakthrough came when a friend introduced him to the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program.

Participating in the College Prep Scholars Program as a high school junior marked a turning point for Youssf. "The online seminars and workshops were really helpful, especially the ones focused on financial aid and navigating the college application process," he recalled. He began to understand where a college degree could take him. “I was also struggling with choosing schools; that’s where QuestBridge helped me the most,” he said. The College Prep Scholars Program even helped him secure an iPad, which became essential for his studies. 

After applying to the National College Match as a high school senior, Youssf was matched with and received a full four-year scholarship from Columbia University in New York City. At Columbia, Youssf pursued a major in Computer Science and immersed himself in campus life by participating in the Application Development Initiative (ADI) with the Computer Science Club, the Muslim Student Association, Turath, and the Arab Student Association. His academic journey extended into the professional world with an internship as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon, joining his classroom knowledge with practical industry experience. 

The QuestBridge Scholars Network (QSN) became an influential opportunity for Youssf to grow his community while volunteering at QuestBridge events. “QuestBridge is a program that connects the same type of people who have come from the same background,” he reflected. While he didn’t set out to make friends through QuestBridge, that was what happened. “We have something in common, so it’s natural.” 

Reflecting on the transition to college, Youssf noted that his ability to enroll in college away from home has benefited him. “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more independent,” he said. And while he feels a stronger sense of autonomy, he’s also learning to grow and seek support through his college community. “A change I have seen in myself is that, previously, I rarely asked for help. I think people from a lower socioeconomic background can get a little scared of taking full advantage of the available resources.“ He stressed, “If QuestBridge didn’t have the information I needed, it connected me to the person who would.” 

Inspired by his experience with QuestBridge, Youssf has a word of encouragement for anyone unsure how to move forward on their path: “Work through and fail fast at things available to you at the moment. Your opportunities are open, so you can get past failures. Then, reach for bigger opportunities.”