Lilia Bellahcen

Hi! My name is Lilia, and I’m a rising junior at Furman University, originally from Morocco. I’m majoring in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. If you’re wondering how I ended up all the way in South Carolina, let’s just say it’s been quite a journey! I went from the comfort of my home in Morocco to Costa Rica, and eventually, thanks to a very persuasive high school counselor, I found myself at Furman.

This MayX immediately caught my attention and stood out from the rest. I saw it as an exciting opportunity to apply my love for problem-solving in a fun and intellectually stimulating way. Honestly, reading about it made me feel like a child again, I was already imagining myself decoding secret messages like a spy! I’ve also heard that cryptography plays a significant role in cybersecurity, a field I might be interested in potentially pursuing in the future. I’m hoping this course will serve as a strong introduction to the world of cryptology.

As for London, it’s a city I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time. I’m a travel enthusiast, and exploring new parts of the world always excites me. I’m particularly eager to see the city’s incredible architecture, which often feels like a living piece of history. I’m also curious to see whether the stereotypes we often hear about British people hold any truth (although one of my golden rules is to avoid setting expectations before experiencing something firsthand). I’m looking forward to building meaningful connections with our travel group since we all share a common interest. One of my personal goals is to visit the Science Museum, it's my favorite kind of activity whenever I’m in a city that has one.