Samir Donnejour, CHI1

Hidden Genius Alum Samir Donnejour (CHI1) is a passionate and driven leader with a bright future ahead. Currently enrolled in his junior year at King College Prep High School in Chicago—where he’s been ranked top 10 of his class for the last 3 years—Samir has his sights set on majoring in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Chicago. While enrolled in our Intensive Immersion Program, Samir honed his technical skills, learning coding and entrepreneurship, and grew as a leader and a brother, developing lasting connections with his peers. Over the 15 months, Samir created a prototype for an AI processing unit, “Universal AI,” a project he continues to refine with plans to expand in the future. Samir remains involved with The Hidden Genius Project, mentoring future cohorts and managing social media for the Chicago Alumni Coordinator.

How have you been?
My family and I have been alright. Currently, I am ranked in the top 10 of my school, making this my 3rd year in that rank. I’m also part of NHS, National Honors Society, one of the many privileges of being in the top 10 and having a 3.96 GPA. I’m looking to go to the University of Illinois Chicago and major in Computer Science. To prepare myself, I am in a program called Minds Matter which does SAT prep, ACT prep, and helps me with my college research. This summer, I plan to do a program with them where I get to go to mock college for 1 to 2 weeks. This way, I can experience what it’s like to be in college.

How did you first learn about The Hidden Genius Project?
I learned about it during my school’s college fair in my school’s gym. I met Eric Steen, the Chicago Site Director, who introduced me and another friend of mine to the program. He told us that in the program I was going to learn more about coding, and leadership skills, and perhaps create my own business. The program piqued my interest when I first heard about it because I wanted to learn how to code and I would get to do it surrounded by people that look like me. By the end of the program, I learned so much more than coding; I also learned about the value of brotherhood.

What was your experience in the program like?
I like the leadership part of the program. I learned to be more responsible and take accountability for my actions. We also became role models for each other, picking each other up and encouraging each other to become the best versions of ourselves. As I turned into a leader, I was recognized as an example of what other people should strive to be. I try to be kind-hearted and help people around me.

After completing the program, I now understand the value of working in a team versus on your own, because when my brothers and I would work together we held each other accountable and helped each other. If one person was slacking off, then we would make sure they got back on track and focused. Because of this, I also grew my communication skills.

Tell me about some of the challenges you’ve faced while in The Hidden Genius Project. How did you overcome them?
One of the challenges that I faced during programming was trying to understand coding skills. It was like learning a whole nother language, just that instead of speaking it I wrote it. I overcame it by putting in the work and studying time to understand more. I also had help from my peers and other members of staff.  Now, when I hear people talking about coding or watch videos where someone is explaining a coding topic, I understand what people are saying and it feels great. It felt great learning a skill that many other people don’t have the patience to grasp or don’t get the chance to learn.

Describe the final project you created during your time in the Immersion Program.
I created an AI processing unit called “Universal AI”. It was just a prototype that was able to do the same thing that ChatGPT does. In the future, I want it to be capable of doing many things like being able to be a deadly AI assistant, in a good way since it will have cutting edge technology. It will have features like being able to analyze your business, being able to give you a status report of your results, and with it always showing areas in which you can improve. It has more, but I don’t really want to say everything right now as I am taking the next couple of years to fine tune it. I only want to announce more features once it is more solidified.

How is The Hidden Genius Project different from other mentorship or training experiences that you have been involved in?
It’s different because it trains and mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities. The Hidden Genius Project allowed me to pursue my path into entrepreneurship. It also gave me a stronger connection with my brothers. We went from strangers in a room to brothers that talk every day even after Immersion Programming ended. I enjoyed being able to meet Black people like me that want to change their communities for the better and have fun. It changed my perspective on my community for the better.

What was the most important thing you gained on a personal level from participating in The Hidden Genius Project?
Networking, because I want to be able to communicate and also partner with many other businesses in the future. It was also one of the main skills that we learned because without networking we wouldn’t be able to make the most of opportunities like going on field trips to places like Salesforce. I used my networking skills recently at a networking event at UChicago. At the event, participants could talk to people who work at the school, students, and outside community organizations. I used my skills to talk to the staff and students about their experience at the school, advice for college admissions, what I can improve on, and more. I still have a lot to improve on when it comes to networking but my communication skills have come a long way.

How do you think your path might have been different if you hadn’t participated in The Hidden Genius Project?
If I didn’t get into The Hidden Genius Project, then I would’ve probably been the same person I was in the past. I was still in pursuit of becoming an entrepreneur and was teaching myself how to grow a business. So only God knows what I would’ve been doing and if I would’ve gotten another opportunity elsewhere. But that version of me needed more opportunity to grow, I was also someone who was in a state of changing himself. Now I have become more responsible with trying to be the best version of myself every day. The Hidden Genius Project really brought me out of my comfort zone as I don’t like going to new places. So this was an opportunity to explore, see new faces, and more. After taking this leap of faith, it’s hard to think of where I would be if I didn’t. Now, I try to pursue every new opportunity that comes my way.

In what ways have you remained involved with The Hidden Genius Project since completing the 15-month Intensive Immersion program?
The staff of The Hidden Genius Project has been checking on me ever since I left. I talked with them about being a Youth Educator for the next cohort which I want to do when my brother comes to The Hidden Genius Project. I’m also working with Daryl, the Chicago Alumni Coordinator. He gave me the opportunity to manage his social media, so I am learning how to manage other people’s social media accounts. Also learning how to market other businesses and that’s going well so far. The staff of The Hidden Genius Project have been checking on me ever since I left, they have also asked if there was another program that I might want to join and would fully support in the decisions I make. I also talked with them about being a Youth Educator for the next cohort, and also probably want to do it when my brother comes to it.

If you could talk to yourself just before you applied, what is one thing you would say?
I would say it’s going to be something that you will look back on and realize was an opportunity you should thank God for. It will also be a step into the world of entrepreneurs. And you will enjoy every moment of it until the end.

What words of encouragement do you have for future Geniuses?​​
Take every opportunity to heart, always take the risk, and allow yourself to become the best version of yourself every day. You have people in your lives that love and care for you and it is your job to repay them. We can do everything in time, but we don’t have the time for everything. Do you understand?