“Be Authentic: In Conversation with Dana Alsaialy”

By Opshori Nondona

When I sat down with Dana Alsaialy, one thing stood out to me right away—her mindset. From the beginning of her time at Charles University, she approached her studies with a calm curiosity. She wasn’t in a rush to have everything figured out. Instead, she leaned into the process—open to trying, learning, and discovering what felt right over time. That mindset didn’t just shape her academic path—it helped her become who she is today.

Now based in Stockholm, Dana works at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). She graduated summa cum laude from the Faculty of Social Sciences, received the Rector’s Award (Prof. JUDr. Karel Engliš Award), and her bachelor’s thesis was nominated for the Bolzano Prize. But what made our conversation meaningful wasn’t a list of achievements—it was how she reflected on the small, quiet choices that brought her here.

“I came in with an exploration mindset,” she told me. “It wasn’t about having a fixed goal—it was about discovering what’s out there, what skills I could learn, what fields could be of potential interest.”

That sense of exploration led her to explore and appreciate the interdisciplinary structure of the Social Sciences program. “The combination of theory, methods, and the capstone thesis project,” she said, “was instrumental in preparing me for the work I do now.”

A significant shift happened during her second year when Dana began taking master’s-level courses in medical anthropology, sociology of health and illness, and cancer epidemiology. Those courses introduced her to public health—something she hadn’t originally planned on, but which quickly became a passion. “Without the opportunity we have as social science students to explore different areas, I don’t think I would have found my calling.”

Like many students, Dana’s journey had its challenging moments, too. In her first semester, she made a citation mistake in a research methods assignment, which resulted in a low grade and a lot of stress. But she didn’t let this setback define her. Instead, she used it as a learning opportunity and grew from it. “From that moment on, I became very meticulous with referencing and research methods,” she said.

Instead of giving up, she kept going. Eventually, she returned to the same course as a teaching assistant—a full-circle moment that showed how far she’d come. Listening to her describe it, I felt the quiet confidence of someone who had grown through experience.

Dana found her sense of belonging in the international student community outside the classroom. Although she was born in Prague and holds Czech nationality, she grew up in Riyadh in a multicultural household. Her mother is Czech, and her father is Saudi Italian. She told me that while she may look local, she felt more at home with other international students, connecting to her Arab roots. This sense of belonging and connection to her roots was a significant part of her journey. “The diverse student body broadened my perspectives,” she said.

One of her closest friendships started on orientation day when a Korean student surprised her by speaking Arabic. That moment led to a group of Arab friends who became a second family. “We spent almost every day together throughout those three years. We even traveled around Europe together during the summer.”

Today, Dana works on projects that combine social sciences and public health—developing EU infection prevention and control guidelines, conducting research, and building disease surveillance tools. At first, she wasn’t sure if she belonged, as the transition from student to a trainee is something she is still embracing. “I kept wondering why they chose me,” she said. “I wasn’t a biologist or an epidemiologist. But then I realized that being a social scientist was exactly why they wanted me. They needed that perspective.”

Her bachelor’s thesis, which examined how patients interpret and manage dermatological conditions, was based on interviews with people from around the world. That project was recently accepted for publication, something she mentioned with quiet pride. Before we finished talking, I asked Dana what she would say to other students who still felt unsure about what direction to take. Her answer stayed with me.

“You have the privilege to... so take it,” she said, encouraging students to explore, take chances, and not feel pressured to have everything mapped out. Her advice was clear and reassuring, giving students the confidence to embrace their journey. And then, she added: “Please be authentic. Please take the time to find what you enjoy because people will feel it from your voice, from your conviction.”

After the conversation, I thought about how much pressure we sometimes carry—to have a plan, to be perfect, to keep up. Dana’s story reminded me that it’s okay to slow down, to be curious, and to figure things out at your own pace. Sometimes, growth doesn’t come from knowing exactly what you want—it comes from being brave enough to begin without knowing, and open enough to keep going anyway and to be true to your curiosity.