Nicola Abusaad
-September 2023
Nicola was just an ordinary 15-year-old boy from Palestine when he first discovered his passion for mathematics. Though he knew little to nothing about problem-solving before the Meshka experience, his curiosity was key. With little more than a spark of interest and a determination to learn, Nicola joined Meshka training to start what will later be some of his biggest achievements. At the training, he learned a lot about coding, programming, problem solving, and was able to set his skills in the right place.
Nicola’s first competition was with university-level students, in the ACM PCPC competition in 2019, he achieved a respectable 9th place, showcasing a noticeable improvement in his skills. His appetite for success grew, and he continued to push himself. Further, he participated at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in 2020 scoring just 49 points out of 600. Nicola felt he could do better, which was reflected in the level of dedication he showed further in his training, spending more hours practicing, solving more problems, and most importantly maintaining a high spirit.
“Though I did not secure a medal and was not so proud of my score, I felt so excited and empowered by the spirit of international competitions and could not wait to be back. From that moment I knew I was off to a long journey in this field.”
His determination led to breakthroughs in the following year. He secured 3rd place in the PCPC 2020 competition and made significant progress in the APIO Asia, where he won 81 points, missing a medal by a mere 3 points. The following APIO in Asia 2022 saw him excel once again winning the first Palestine bronze medal ever in this competition.
But Nicola's journey was not just about personal accomplishments. He was part of a team, a driving force alongside his mentors at Meshka, who had guided him from the beginning. Together, they shattered barriers and proved that if you can dream it you can do it.
In 2021, the PCPC competition saw them, as school students, triumph over university-level competitors, claiming the top spot. The ACPC 2021 showcased their skills, earning them the 3rd position in the Middle East among school students. In 2022, Nicola got his way smoothly into history by participating in the International Olympics for Informatics (IOI) and got a bronze medal; it was the very first time Palestine won a medal in this competition.
“I did not realize it back then, I was competing to win like every other competition. I was kind of focused on the task at hand, it was only after I heard them say the first medal for Palestine that it hit. That echo sounded so good.”
All this hard work, training, and competition didn't leave much time for school, but Nicola was on a mission. In 2022, at the IOI, he finally achieved his goal and proudly won a bronze medal, a very well-deserved one after years of fighting for it. What's more, Nicola's accomplishments opened doors for future opportunities. He participated in the Arab Future Programmers competition in Jordan, where he clinched 1st place and earned a 100% tuition scholarship at the Applied Science University in Jordan.
His dedication to math paid off when he entered his first mathematical competition also the first time for Palestine to be there, the International Mathematical Olympiad 2022 (IMO) in Oslo, Norway. Nicola was the first of all Palestine in mathematics and proudly represented his homeland. He felt a sense of honor simply standing on that global stage. Though he didn't secure a medal, he earned an honorable mention.
What makes this story quite inspiring is that Meshka didn't just turn a young math enthusiast into an International medal winner; they also made Palestine proud in the world of math and computer science. Nicola's journey is an inspiration for anyone who is determined, that sometimes with a spark of talent and a lot of hard work history can be made.