Achievements in times of loss: Top UAE students honoured

Tayeb Al Rais and Mona Abdullah Mohammed honouring a student on Saturday. — KT photo by Rahul Gajjar

‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’ is what one of the top students said while being honoured by the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) on Saturday at the Women Renaissance Society, Dubai.

“One may truly want to do something, yet face some obstacles,” 18-year-old Faraj Khamis told Khaleej Times. “But we should find a way to do what we want, no matter what hurdles arise.”

Though Khamis lost both his parents at a young age, he did not lose hope.

“The AMAF has always been there for help, and assigned me a Sri Lankan caretaker.” Khamis, who stays in Satwa, is studying biology at the College of Science, UAE University. “However, I am planning to move to the College of Medicine because I want to be a doctor.”

Khamis, who scored 84 per cent in his high school, was honoured by the foundation in a ceremony. “Despite the hardships I have been through, I always study hard, and want to serve my country, and this is my advice to anyone who might go through what I did.”

The AMAF honoured high-calibre students from the UAE’s schools and universities for the sixth consecutive year to encourage them to pursue academic and scientific excellence. It hosted a special ceremony on Saturday to honour the outstanding students and their mothers at the Dubai Women’s Association. The event was attended by Tayeb Al Rais, Secretary-General of the AMAF ,and Mona Abdullah, Deputy Director of the Dubai Educational Zone.

As many as 396 minors were also recognised for their outstanding academic achievements, including Niamah Ali bin Awad, who scored a 99 per cent aggregate in her high school exit exams for the academic year 2012-2013.

Echoing similar sentiments as Khamis, 18-year-old Shamsa Hamad, an Emirati, said she obtained her high school certificate last year, and was honoured for achieving 90 per cent. “I have joined the Zayed University, College of Political Sciences, and wish to be a diplomat in the future.”

The reason behind Shamsa’s success is her late father, who was fond of studying.

“My mother became very sad when my father passed away; I wanted to make her happy.” Shamsa also wanted to please her friends and teachers, who were “a great help to her”.

Shamsa said those who lose parents should “look forward, maximise their efforts, and gift them something pleasant in their other life.” “Losing parents is not the end of the world, and we should never give up, and serve our country.”

Paying tribute to the foundation, Shamsa said they never let them down. “They have always been there when needed; they encourage, and support us socially, psychologically, and financially.” Elyaza Abdullah, 16, an Emirati student at the Coptic Mary School, scored 98 per cent in Grade 10 and was honoured. “All I want is serve my country which stood by me, and never deserted me,” she said.

Mohammed Eissa, 11, lost his father when he was young, and was looked after by the foundation. “Though I cannot make my father happy in this life, I decided to make him proud of me in his other life.” The Emirati Grade 6 boy, who goes to the Shurooq Private School, has been honoured for his excellent academic performance. “I came first and scored 90 per cent, and want to be a pilot.”

Tayeb Al Rais said they are committed to create qualified minors trained to play effective roles in society and prove that difficult conditions only serve to reinforce determination and courage.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com