In her own words: ‘Even if you will not shine on the stage, each one of you is a shining star’

We won’t be in the graduation hall this year. We won’t be able to put graduating students’ photos up on the walls. And we won’t be able to throw our hats off in a graduation tradition. But without any doubt, we still have lots to celebrate.

A graduation ceremony is only one moment in our lives and our journeys, each step we climb upwards is a celebration, telling us what we are now, and giving us something that we will hold with us to help us shape our future. Remembering these steps is a reason to celebrate.

I believe Awsaj Academy, part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education, the place where I have worked as a counselor for nine years, has had a profound impact on the journey of the students who will be graduating this year. After they graduate, I see them going to universities, choosing career paths, and succeeding in their lives.

Awsaj exemplifies the importance of perseverance, of resilience, of embracing differences, and of inclusivity toward others. The certificate that graduating students receive alone is not all they take with them from Awsaj. They take skills and qualities that will support them throughout their lives.

Students with learning needs learn and grow at our school. How does it work? It works because Awsaj is a family. Nobody is the same, but all of us are united.

Let me tell you about our latest batch of graduates. I may not know them all, but there are some of them I will never forget, because they have given me new experiences and taught me new lessons.

There is one student who has low social skills. One day, he told me: “Miss Sally, can I meet with Mohammed once a week and talk to him?” I told him that as Mohammed was in Grade 10, and this boy was in Grade 7, he may not accept. However, when I spoke to Mohammed, he immediately said “Sure, Miss”. He was there for this younger boy every week, teaching him, listening to him. Even when our sessions finished, Mohammed would tell me: “Let me walk him to class with you, we can chat on our way there”.

Mohammed is one of the students graduating this year. I am sure that not only is he going to follow his dreams, he is going to make them happen.

Our children are the future, and when we believe in them, we shape their future and ours.

One young student with Autism would walk into my office every day and show me a funny cartoon video. I would think: “I want this boy to talk to me, to interact”. So, one day, I told him: “Let’s make a deal: I won’t watch the video unless we talk, I will ask you one question and you will ask me one”. From that day, you could hear our talks and laughs, and this young man would walk to my office and other people’s offices to chat. At first, it was only screen time, now its eye contact, sharing, building relationships.

This student is also graduating this year and I am going to miss our talks, and the laughs we have had. I believe that he is going to do wonders.

Because of COVID-19, and through being in lockdown, we may feel that life is taking us in the wrong direction. It takes courage to let go of what you cannot change and keep going. But our minds and hearts are not locked down. When we keep them open, we will see the light ahead even when it is hard to do so.

And to all our graduating students at Awsaj Academy, I say, even if you will not shine on the stage, each one of you is a shining star. Look up to the sky, and you will see yourself. I can see you there.