Laith Al-Hayek, a supply chain and logistics technology student graduating this month, describes the last few years as “quite a journey,” full of international travel and learning how to live on his own.
Al-Hayek was born in Houston and raised between Texas and Saudi Arabia, where his family moved when he was 10. He was interested in returning to the United States to finish school. Originally interested in pursuing an education in finance from Bauer, Al-Hayek changed his mind after researching SCLT, thinking it would “hold [his] attention” better, and perhaps add a bit more fun along the way.
He returned to Space City to graduate from an American high school and pursue higher education. He spent a gap year back in Saudi Arabia before applying and being accepted to study SCLT at the University of Houston.
“Houston is pretty much home to me, right. But living alone for two years … I’ve been through a lot,” Al-Hayek said.
He credits his ability to “take a step back” and “learn from [his] mistakes” with helping him navigate the unfamiliar experience.
“Living alone isn’t the easiest thing, especially when you’ve been surrounded by family your whole life,” he said. “It’s a very big change, especially with living in a new country with different cultures and different backgrounds. I learned that it’s always good to take a step back and observe before acting. I applied that to my studies here at UH when I was given tasks or assignments, too. I realized that the best thing to do is always take a step back and observe from a distance before tackling the problem.”
Al-Hayek also noted that his father “has been the biggest source of support and inspiration throughout [his] life.”
“Whether it was financial help, emotional encouragement, or simply his steady presence, he always made sure I had the guidance and resources I needed to succeed,” Al-Hayek said. “His sacrifices and unwavering belief in me have shaped who I am today. As I step into this new opportunity, I carry with me the values he instilled resilience, hard work, and gratitude.”
Looking to the Future
Describing himself as “a huge car guy,” it’s no surprise that Al-Hayek enjoyed his internship with Kiewit Corporation in Houston. In one of his two internship roles, he was part of the trucking division and tasked with moving heavy haul equipment and machinery across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
“Anything that has a motor in it – I just love the sound of it. To be able to see all of this heavy equipment – all of these bulldozers, excavators, huge cranes, you know – that alone was so interesting, and then getting to see how they move around and get installed was amazing as well,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time there. They had an amazing internship program, and I learned so much.”
Kiewit initially extended a post-graduation offer to Al-Hayek, but ultimately won’t be able to hire him due to cutbacks. Through it all – international moves, flying solo and navigating academics – Al-Hayek says that his biggest struggles were ultimately financial in nature.
“We live in tough times, especially when it comes to paying for college. I didn’t want to take on student debt, so I’ve worked very long hours to support myself and my education. That really takes away from a student’s focus, and I don’t think enough people talk about that.”
Al-Hayek noted that some of the University of Houston’s greatest offerings and opportunities didn’t necessarily come in the form of strict academics, but the networking opportunities he had the chance to take part in.
“At UH, there are so many opportunities to network with professionals and people who have been in their industries for decades, with so much experience,” he said.
With multiple supply chain experiences in procurement and logistics already under his belt, Al-Hayek says he’s ready to “pivot” with another internship before starting his new role with Amazon in August of 2025, and he also sees a master’s degree on the horizon once the dust begins to settle.
“Resilience isn’t just about surviving challenges,” Al-Hayek said. “It’s about growing through them and turning setbacks into strengths.”