When sisters Shayma and Bedoor reflect on their journeys, one thing is clear: they have never been alone. From navigating life across multiple countries to rebuilding their confidence in a new home, their shared experiences have shaped who they are and are becoming, and through Genesys Works, they have been able to refine that sense of self.
Originally from the Middle East, Shayma and Bedoor spend years moving between countries before arriving in the United States when they were in middle school. Their transition wasn’t easy. Shortly after settling in to their new home, the pandemic hit, pushing school online and disrupting their sense of stability even further.
For Shayma, the shift proved difficult as her once outgoing and confident personality had slowly become a quieter, tempered version of herself. She found herself struggling not just socially, but with even with her English skills. Bedoor shared similar challenges, navigating a new education system while trying to find her voice.
Both sisters, though, were driven by their desire to rebuild and come into their own.
After seeing their older brother go through Genesys Works and grow in confidence and professionalism, both Shayma and Bedoor decided to apply.
“I see how much he changed,” Bedoor said. “It made me feel like maybe I could do it, too.”
For Shayma, the program offered a chance to reclaim the confidence she felt she had lost. For Bedoor, it was an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone and discover what she was capable of.
Through Summer Training, both sisters experienced rapid growth and acquisition of new skills. Shayma discovered a new interest in data analytics, pushing herself not only to learn the material but to teach it to others. Bedoor, meanwhile, began building the communication and professionalism skills that once felt out of reach.
Today, they’re each applying those skills in their internships. Shayma is a Cloud Offensive Security Engineer Intern at Okta, where she contributes to infrastructure projects. Bedoor is an Operations Associate Intern at Cloudflare, troubleshooting technical issues, managing tickets, and supporting internal systems. While their roles differ, their growth stories share common themes of resilience and curiosity.
Both sisters credit Genesys Works with helping them clarify their futures. Shayma now feels empowered to make informed decisions about her path after high school, and Bedoor has narrowed her interests to tech and cybersecurity, field she previously thought were out of reach.
What excites the two the most about the future isn’t just the opportunities that now lie ahead of them, but the confidence they will carry with them.
“I’ve learned skills [as a teenager] that most people don’t learn until much later in life,” Shayma shared. “And I already have them.”
For Bedoor, the possibilities are endless: “I’m excited to explore what’s out there for me. Things I didn’t even know existed before Genesys Works.”
Together, Shayma and Bedoor are proof that when given the opportunity and support, young people can do more than they ever thought possible, and bring others right along with them.
