Dubai: One of this year's top Grade 12 achievers Noura Mohammad has overcome many obstacles in her life - including losing her eyesight following a car accident over a year ago. She has now taken a step further to become one of this year's distinguished students.
During an awards ceremony the 19-year-old was presented with a Dh100,000 grant and a laptop from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Some 51 pupils were honoured during the ceremony.
Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, presented the awards on behalf of Shaikh Mohammad.
In the ceremony organised by the Ministry of Education, Noura said she aspires to continue her higher education in Islamic law at Sharjah University and perceives the next challenge as a driving force to overcome the pain of losing her sight.
"I don't usually tell this to anyone but many times I felt like collapsing and on the verge on giving up. I just wanted to lock myself in my room; in my own dark world. But thanks to my parents and school principal, I was able to find myself again by joining a club for the visually impaired.
"I learned that life's challenges and opportunities are present everywhere and for everyone no matter if they live with a disability or not. It only requires determination and faith," said the humble UAE national.
Noura had to rely on her parents and a teacher to prepare for her studies as she was still new to Braille and initially found it difficult to integrate with her classmates. But now she is more determined to play a vital role in her country and was proud to be at yesterday's ceremony along with her parents.
Abdullah Mohammad, another visually disabled pupil from Manar Al Eman Charity School who achieved a 98.3 score said he wants to use Shaikh Mohammad's grant for his Master's studies.
Seventeen-year-old Razan Tarik said her family and friends expected her 99.1 percentage adding it was in her character to excel and be distinguished.
"I will give my grant to my parents for their guidance, hard work, and faith they placed in me. I will also donate a small amount to the underprivileged children in Palestine," said the Palestinian national.
UAE national and student speaker at the ceremony Marwa Abdul Al Wase's said as students in the UAE they learned from Shaikh Mohammad that success is a process that never ends.
Minister of Education Dr Hanif Hassan said in his speech: "I call upon all students to make more effort in raising their country's civilisation and maintaining their history while they are beginning a new stage in their university life."
By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter