Abu Dhabi: Some 150 grade 12 top achievers were honoured at a ceremony in the capital on Tuesday.
The achievements of these hard-working high school graduates were honoured at a ceremony and iftar with Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec).
The Grade 12 Best Achievers Award Ceremony recognised young Emirati and expat women and men who represented schools from around the country. The high school seniors came from different educational backgrounds — public schools, institutes of applied technology and special needs.
Shaikh Mansour congratulated the students on their triumph, stressing that this excellence is a source of pride. He expressed his thanks to all workers in the field of education — officials, teachers and administrators — who have had an active role in the efforts of these students who will be the building blocks, essential in the process of construction and development of the nation.
Alyazia Al Shams spoke on behalf of her peers about the pride they feel in their accomplishments. “We were able to make our parents happy, waiting for the moment of our success and excellence. Achieving success was full of challenges and obstacles, but these moments are an introduction to our future that requires hard work in order to leave a print that is different to others,” she said.
Echoing her fellow graduate, Hessa Khamis Bin Sinan, 18, the top ranked student from Fujairah who scored 99.1 per cent, advised students to believe in themselves. “You need to know you can do it and then you need to work really hard and organise your time and I think you should take the method that is more comfortable for you because it differs from one student to another,” she explained.
Sinan wants to study forensic science or astronomy, but she still has yet to decide. She plans to continue her studies in California and aspires to one day end up at an Ivy League university, she told Gulf News.
With big dreams to reach, Mohammad Al Sherbini, 17, an Egyptian student, wants to become a doctor. Al Sherbini is ranked as the eighth highest in Dubai with 99.1 per cent. He believes he was able to achieve this with his parents’ support, who provided the best environment to study, he said.
“I feel great and I think future students should work hard towards what they’ve always dreamed of and set a goal for themselves and focus on classes,” Al Sherbini said.
The Ministry of Education started this initiative while awarding top achieving twelfth grade students in 2012. It has been an annual event ever since.
A similar ceremony honouring students two years ago awarded grants worth Dh20,000 and 20 scholarships for Abu Dhabi University.
The idea was introduced by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to ADEC.
-Heidi Pullyard is a trainee at Gulf News
