Growing up, math was never Faisal Alnakhala’s strong suit. Now, he’s planning on earning his next degree in electrical and computer engineering.
Math was not always Faisal Alnakhala’s strong suit. But after a few years of school, dedication and perseverance, he’s now found a new love for numbers.
So much so that he’s placed in Schoolcraft College’s annual Pythagorean Prize, a prestigious honor for students studying mathematics.
“In high school, I actually failed high school algebra, and look at me now,” he said. “I’m very proud of myself. I never thought I’d be where I’m at right now. I’m happy I’m here and I like living in the moment.”
Alnakhala, a Palestinian who grew up in Saudi Arabia, always knew he wanted to study in the United States. Since his family owned a vacation home nearby, he saw Schoolcraft College as a great option to begin his studies at.
Since arriving, Alnakhala has gotten involved with Phi Theta Kappa, serving as the Schoolcraft College’s chapter secretary. He has spent time tutoring his fellow students in the Learning Center, an opportunity that he says has helped me learn as well.
“That helped me not forget what concepts I took here in math classes at Schoolcraft,” he said. “I’ve got a better grasp of how to deliver my points to people through the Learning Center.”
As he prepares to graduate at the College’s 61st Annual Commencement Ceremony May 9, Alnakhala plans on attending Wayne State University to earn a degree in electrical and computer engineering. His interest stems from his father, who used to take him on jobs as a telecommunications engineer.
Alnakhala said he was greatly influenced by several of his math instructors, including Katie Shields, Christopher Leirstein and Audrey Mingela. Their teaching styles made it easy for him to understand the concepts and succeed.
His advice to potential students looking to enroll at Schoolcraft? Don’t second-guess yourself.
“Go with your gut feeling and everything’s going to be worth it,” he said. “Go with what feels right and put in hard work and I promise you, everything is going to pay off.”