“Education is one of the most important things in life”: QF student

The love of learning that Qatar Foundation instils in young people empowers them to discover, grow, and achieve – and the nine students from the organization’s schools who have been named winners of Qatar’s 14th Education Excellence Award epitomize this.

Alanoud Mubarak Alhitmi, a 12-year-old student at Qatar Academy Doha (QAD) – part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education – was the recipient of a platinum award this year. “My school is one of the reasons why I won,” she says, explaining how she loves to go to school to learn. “Education is one of the most important things in life.

“Qatar Academy Doha has helped me a lot, such as encouraging me to become involved in after school activities. Before I was shy, but the school has helped me to become more confident.

“This award is a privilege. When I first found out I had won, I was very happy, and very proud of myself. And I am very thankful, as so many students really wanted this award. I never thought I could get this far at such a young age.”

Proving that QF has created an environment that strives to provide unique opportunities to its students – opportunities that allow them to explore, succeed, and contribute to society – Alhitmi says: “My artwork was chosen to hang in the Education City Stadium, right next to my school.

“When I finish school, I would like to be an artist, and represent this country. I want to make Qatar proud.”

That is a sentiment echoed by 11-year-old Fahd Masoud Ibrahim Nabina, a platinum winner from Qatar Academy Al Wakra (QAW), who says he would like to be able to give back to Qatar when he is older.

“I love to learn and have fun,” he says. “And my school has been very helpful; it supported me. When I finish school, I want to go to university and become a businessman – like my father.

“The Education Excellence Award is a very important award. When I found out I had won, I was really happy – everything I had done in the past three years led to me winning the award.”

Abdulaziz Fetais Al Marri is an 18-year-old student studying politics and international relations at UCL and a QAD graduate. He also received a platinum award this year. “It’s an honor to win this award. It is the result of many years of hard work.

“It is the start of something new – it’s certainly not the end point. It is a reminder of where I am heading.”

For Al Marri, that future involves working in foreign affairs. “I am fascinated by international relations, as well as politics more broadly. It is a domain that I aspire to work in.”

Explaining how QAD helped him to succeed, Al Marri credits the International Baccalaureate curriculum that is taught in the school, explaining how it promotes the importance of critical thinking and organizational skills among students.

And encouraging others to pursue opportunities as he has, he says: “Take your chances as you find them. You might be presented with an opportunity that, if you don’t take it, you might not have the option to again.

“Work hard, and organize. Don’t miss out on something that might be being able to help you progress and improve.”

The other award winners from QF schools were: Abdullah Hilal AlMohannadi, Qatar Academy Al Khor, platinum; Maryam Faisal Hamad Al Thani, QAW, platinum; Maha Nasser Abdulrahman Al Thani, QAD, platinum; Reem Ibrahim Al Janahi, QAD, gold; Khalid Abdulbasit Al-Shaibei, QAD, gold; and Rawda Mansour Al Qassabi, QAD, gold. Ahmed A. Al-Shammari, a teacher at Qatar Leadership Academy, also received the Education Excellence Award.

Admissions for QF schools are now open for the academic year 2021/2022. For more information, please visit www.qf.org.qa/education/pre-university-admissions