Gaby was always interested in living and studying abroad, eager to seek out opportunities to broaden her worldview. She chose to study Arabic in high school, curious to try a non-Romance language, and her Arabic teacher recommended NSLI-Y. ​

After NSLI-Y, Gaby attended McGill University to study International Development and Arabic. Realizing she learned best in immersive situations and while rooted in local culture, Gaby sought ways to continue her Arabic studies in the MENA region. She spent a semester traveling and studying in Beirut, where she renewed her passion for Arabic study. She worked on policy issues in Lebanon after college for more than two years. Gaby credits her NSLI-Y experience with showing her that she could take on new challenges, like building a life in the Middle East and achieving ahigh level of fluency in Arabic.​

Upon returning to the United States, she joined a government contractor to work on post conflict and stability projects in South Asia and the Middle East. Gaby completed her graduate degree at Columbia University in International Security and Technology Policy. During this period, she interned at the US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, doing research on civilian protection during armed conflict. Following graduation, Gaby joined Microsoft as a contractor on their global cybersecurity policy and diplomacy team. Even though Gaby may not use her Arabic skills daily, she is still involved in global issues and uses cross-cultural skills developed during NSLI-Y to run global events and travel internationally. ​

Gaby has been involved in youth mentorship for several years and introduces the high school students she works with to NSLI-Y. She sees living abroad and programs like NSLI-Y as great opportunities for Americans to grow and experience new cultures, while improving their language skills.​