Hats off to Ghadah "Gigi" Alobaidi, a Citrus College Architecture major who is making progress toward her goal of creating sustainable and affordable housing solutions.

A resident of Montclair, Gigi emigrated from Iraq and attended City of Knowledge, a K-12 school in Pomona that helped her transition and adapt to life in the United States. After graduating from City of Knowledge, she enrolled at Citrus College. Initially, she viewed her time on campus as an opportunity for exploration and self-discovery. Although Gigi declared computer science as her major, she was still navigating her career aspirations and hoping her path would become clearer with time. She wasn't disappointed.

"I found a community at Citrus that not only supports academic growth, but also fosters creativity, hands-on learning and leadership," she said. "This has enriched my experience and inspired me to pursue architecture wholeheartedly."

The college's faculty have played a pivotal role in helping Gigi uncover her passion. "The college's architecture program offers a supportive, interactive, experiential learning environment where you can develop a strong foundation in design and technical skills," she said. "Instructor Tommy Reyes has been a huge influence. His approach to teaching has inspired my creative process."

According to Gigi, Reyes has assigned hands-on projects and organized outings that have enabled her to develop practical, field-applicable skills. "Some of the highlights include participating in the Pando Populous solar engine competition and visiting architectural firms like ONYX," she said. "Going on trips and participating in projects with the Architecture Club has provided valuable insight into the industry and gave me the chance to build lasting friendships and make strong professional connections."

Becoming involved with the Architecture Club has been a highlight of Gigi's time at Citrus College. In fact, she considers it a "deeply rewarding" experience that has taught her the importance of leadership. "Becoming president [of the Architecture Club] was an opportunity to give back the students and create a supportive environment for everyone," Gigi said. "Together with an incredible team, we worked to ensure new students felt welcomed and current members had access to enriching experiences. Our collective efforts focused on fostering a sense of community and providing opportunities for growth."

As Gigi looks to the future, the skills and lessons she is learning through her involvement in the architecture program are sure to prove valuable. Projected to graduate from Citrus College next fall, she hopes to transfer to Cal Poly Pomona to pursue a degree in architecture. Professionally, Gigi would like to make an impact in both commercial and residential design.

"I am passionate about creating designs that are not only functional, but also accessible and environmentally responsible," she said. "I look forward to contributing to communities through thoughtful, innovative architecture."

Thank you for allowing Citrus College to be part of your journey, Gigi! We can't wait to see what your future holds.