Nearly 7,000 miles from home, BYU women’s tennis freshman Karina Mohamed faced an unfamiliar challenge — learning how to be independent, both on and off the court.
A native of Alexandria, Egypt, Mohamed made a last-minute decision to play tennis in the United States, believing a collegiate career could be her best path to the professional level.
She arrived in Utah with one 23-kilogram suitcase and no family, uncertain of what awaited her in Provo. Months later, surrounded by supportive teammates and coaches, Mohamed has found both confidence and family in a place she now calls home.
Mohamed began playing tennis at an early age. Every member of her family plays, but her father had the greatest impact on her love for the game.
“My dad got me to play tennis,” Mohamed said. “He made me a tennis court at home. He went to all my tournaments with me. He traveled with me.”
Her father’s dedication to her development helped Mohamed find success on the court, including titles on the ITF/CAT African Junior Circuit and multiple International Tennis Federation tournament wins in both singles and doubles.
Hoping to translate that success to the professional level, Mohamed began researching college tennis opportunities. In her search, BYU stood out above the rest, particularly because of women’s tennis head coach Holly Hasler.
“I reached out to 30 schools and got a lot of offers, but Holly was special,” Mohamed said. “She treats me like I’m her child. She really does care. That’s the thing that made me really think to go to BYU.”
Despite the excitement of playing tennis and studying in Provo, Mohamed’s move across the world was daunting.
“It’s been hard being away from home and being independent,” she said. “It took me a while to adapt.”
As she navigated the adjustment to her new life, Mohamed’s teammates stepped up to support her. The team spent time together outside of practice, and she found comfort and stability in her growing bond with them.
“I have no idea what I could have done without them,” Mohamed said. "They had me in their houses before I moved into the dorms, and they helped me figure out my classes.”
Hasler also played a key role in Mohamed’s early transition. During a fall match, Mohamed rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the final set, winning six consecutive deuce points.
“Holly really believed that I could win,” Mohamed said. “She just pushes me past my limit and is like, ‘No, you can actually get there.’ I’m just so happy and grateful to have her.”
Mohamed was also surprised by the cultural contrast between Utah and Egypt, particularly the openness she encountered in everyday interactions.
“People are just so much kinder than I thought,” she said. "When I moved here, I would walk in the middle of the street and people would just start smiling at me. I just got so used to it and I would do it to other people too. It’s so different in Egypt.”
The cultural shift taught Mohamed valuable lessons about independence and self-confidence. Navigating daily responsibilities on her own has strengthened her social skills and shaped her personal growth.
“In Egypt, everyone around me would do stuff for me, but here I’m on my own and I have to get stuff done,” Mohamed said. “I have learned a lot of stuff since I moved here.”
Mohamed’s experience at BYU has provided a strong foundation to improve her tennis skills while also shaping her growth and independence. Still aspiring to play professionally after her college career concludes, she hopes the confidence she has gained since leaving Egypt will continue to grow.
Though she still misses home, Mohamed has found a new sense of family and strength in Provo.