Atwaa: An Inspiration Gone too Soon

• Reporters: Nourhan Amer & Farida Ahmed

DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FROM THE CARAVAN TEAM TO ALL OF FATHY ATWAA’S LOVED ONES

A maverick mechanic who turned a hobby into a thriving business, and a trusted confidant inspiring the best in people, Fathy Mohamed Atwaa wil lalways be remembered by his friends and family for his perseverance and resilience.

Atwaa, a Mechanical Engineering sophomore, exceptional student, friend, fiancé, and son, died in a car accident on October 6, 2024.

Atwaa exemplified dedication and determination in everything he did, from being an excellent student to being financially independent andpursuing his passions through his business of fixing damaged cars and offering driving services, his friends say.

His fiancee, Radwa Samy, a Law graduate of Mansoura University, is especially shaken by this loss.

“His hobby was mechanics, in which he worked. He would fix broken down cars and trade them and had several cars working in the Uber service. Aside from the tuition fees paid by his father, all the other expenses were covered by him,” said Samy.

Beyond his academic achievements, Atwaa demonstrated maturity beyond his years, managing aspects of his life on his own, which is rare at such a young age.

His professor, Associate Professor of mechanical engineering Mostafa Youssef, spoke highly of Atwaa’s self-reliance, noting that he was responsible, driven, and capable of handling challenges with grace.

“It was really hard to learn that unfortunately one of your students has passed away. All your thoughts are that this person, in a couple of years, will graduate, get the degree, and start their careers. This is what you are anticipating to hear about somebody. But to get the news that the student passed away was very very shocking. I was shocked that day,” said Youssef.

His drive to excel in his studies at AUC was noticed by many of his professors in the Mechanical Engineering department, particularly Mustafa Arafa, who described Fathy as “a young shining star, whose life was cut too short”.

“He was a man who I can trust, I can depend on, a responsible person. I think that comes back to him running a business so he knew what responsibility meant. You don’t get to see many students at such a young age that are running their own business and at the same time attending classes. He knew how to strike a balance between working and studying,” said Arafa.

His presence was felt strongly on campus, even if he wasn’t always in the spotlight. In the wake of Fathy’s sudden passing, his friends and colleagues are left grappling with shock and grief.

Mayar Alaa, a Political Science senior and one of his friends, grieves the short-lived friendship.

“Fathy was a remarkable individual whose presence impacted those around him simply by being himself. Fathy’s ability to positively affect people was natural, and he brought light into the lives of those who knew him. I’m honestly going to miss him,” said Alaa.

She said his unexpected loss serves as a reminder of life’s fragility, urging those left behind to cherish the relationships they have.

Atwaa, like any university student in their early 20s, had a vision of his own.

His fiancee recalls his goals after graduation—getting married and working abroad as a mechanical engineer. She also spoke fondly about how he took on his father’s role as the head of the household since his father worked abroad and was the backbone of his entire family.

“He was the eldest of two sisters, one of them also in the accident and had critical injuries,” added Samy.

Fathy’s memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him, and his kindness and authenticity will forever be remembered.

“There’s no one like him. If you ever talked to him, for just a moment, you would know that he’s one of the most brilliant, kindest, and purest people you’d ever meet. He was a loyal friend,” said Samy.

“I’ll never forget all my memories with him. He was always by my side.