From left: Maitha Al Mohannadi, Ammar Hassan, Saif Al Dayeh, and Ajlan Al Kaabi.
Doha: For those students graduating from Qatar Academy Al Khor (QAK), school was not only a place of learning, but it was a home away from home where they spent many years and where they formed strong bonds within the community of Al Khor city, which is in northern Qatar.
These students are now preparing to embark on a new journey as they look ahead to the future after graduation. They recall special moments and memories from their time at school, narrating how they coped with studying during pandemic – perhaps the most difficult time for them in the past year.
Maitha Al Mohannadi joined Qatar Academy Al Khor, part of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Pre-University Education in Grade 6. What distinguishes QAK from other schools, according to her, is the school’s “unique location in Al Khor city, and the small and tight-knit school community that it belongs to, which makes communication between students so much easier, and has strengthened relationships and connections and enhanced students’ academic achievements.”
Speaking about her learning experience amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Al Mohannadi said: “I am a very sociable person, and I love engaging with people around me. When we faced the pandemic, and all the sudden changes it caused, it was difficult for me to adapt to the new situation in the beginning.
“Over time, I realised that this experience also had positive aspects. I learned how to manage my time — to make use of the time I spent at home; and I became more organised in my studies. I also had plenty of time to work on school assignments because the teachers were very cooperative and flexible with us.”
During her time at QAK, Al Mohannadi was the Student Council President, as she led a team that was responsible for organizing events and activities at the school, across all levels, for occasions such as National Sport Day. This experience helped her build strong leadership skills.
Ammar Hassan, a graduate of QAK’s class of 2021, has been a student at the school since its establishment in 2008. Hassan said that the way the pandemic impacted education made him appreciate the opportunities and privileges he has, which may not be the case for many students around the world.
“The pandemic taught us many life lessons. I now appreciate the value of education, and how lucky I was to be able to continue my education remotely, and also be able to graduate without disruption or interruption, unlike many other students in different parts of the world, who faced difficulties that prevented them from continuing their education,” said Hassan.
Explaining the role that QAK played in helping students enhance their personal and academic skills to be prepare for university life, as well as the quality of the education that he received at the school, Hassan said: “I really enjoyed studying biology which inspired me to take up medicine as my career path.
“I have acquired great knowledge and experience that qualifies me to succeed in this field thanks to what we learned at QAK, and the efforts of our teachers and administrators, who have always supported us at all times. I will always be grateful to them.”
Saif Al Dayeh, the valedictorian at QAK, who joined the school in Grade 4, aspires to study business. Talking about the reason that made him choose this field he said: “In light of the scientific development that we are witnessing, automation and robots are beginning to take over human tasks, but business is different, because it relies on risk-taking and critical decisions.
“This is the reason for my passion towards the business world. I do not yet have a specific vision of what the future holds for me, but I hope that when I explore the field more deeply, I will find something that will direct me to the right destination.”
According to Al Dayeh, one of the most interesting experiences during his time at the school was his participation at THIMUN Qatar, organised by the THIMUN Qatar Regional Office — a joint project between Qatar Academy Doha, also part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education, and the THIMUN (The Hague Model United Nations) Foundation.
For Ajlan Al Kaabi, the positive lesson that he learned from the remote learning experience is that “it made us more disciplined, and more punctual even though we are studying from the comfort of our homes.” As he prepares for his university life, Al Kaabi explained how QAK helped him determine his future plans.
“I benefited a lot from studying the business curriculum at the school, especially because my father has extensive experience in entrepreneurship, and I used to engage in discussions with him about the field. It helped me explore more about the business field.
