More ABP students graduate

Qatar Foundation’s Academic Bridge Programme (ABP), which marked its 10th year, graduated 247 students, including 65 on honour roll, at a ceremony on Wednesday.Including this 10th graduating class, the ABP has graduated, since 2001, around 2,300 young men and women, 90% of whom are Qatari.The graduates have gone on to study in Education City universities, in Qatar University and abroad, particularly in the UK and US universities.So far, 48 graduates from the Class of 2011 have been accepted into Education City universities.A lot of ABP alumni now hold positions in Qatar Foundation and in banks and other organisations around Qatar.

In his address, keynote speaker Mehran Kamrava, interim dean of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, told the graduates they are passing out of a programme known and respected for its academic rigour and excellence.By being here today, you have demonstrated your readiness to enter the next phase of your lives with a solid intellectual foundation and the necessary critical skills that have equipped you for success in whatever you set your minds to,he said.Kamrava reminded that by itself, graduation from ABP or from any other programme doesn’t necessarily guarantee success.Over years to come, in whatever endeavour you choose to pursue, you will have to work even harder than you have done so far. Thomas Edison said it perfectly: genius, he said, is one percent inspiration, 99% perspiration. Genius isn’t innate; it’s earned. And for you to succeed, you must earn the right to success.
He urged the graduates to work hard, go the extra mile, challenge themselves, persevere, keep reading, researching and keep an open mind.

Kamrava recalled a famous speech that former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once gave. In 1946, a year after the conclusion of World War Two, he was invited to give the commencement address at Notre Dame University in the US. Very proud that the university had such a world-renowned commencement speaker, the president of Notre Dame went through great lengths in listing all of Churchill’s many accomplishments.After the long introduction and much anticipation by the audience, Churchill stepped up to the podium, stood behind the microphone, faced the audience, and said,Don’t ever give up.And he returned to his seat and sat down.The president of Notre Dame was surprised and taken aback. He got back on the podium, looked at Churchill, and said, Mr Prime Minister, would you like to elaborate on your comments? So Churchill got back behind the podium, looked at the audience, and said, “Don’t ever, ever give up.And he went back and sat down.Kamrava pointed out that Churchill’s uncharacteristically brief remarks are worth taking to heart. “Remember to work hard, ask questions, and don’t ever give up. Don’t ever, ever give up.Valedictorian Bashaer Awad al-Saadi gave an account of how ABP changed her life for the better forever.

In middle school I’ve always been straight A student. However, later in my life I started not to care about my grades, skipping my classes until I failed my math test in grade eleven and had low scores in most of the subjects in both grade 10 and 11.After that, I knew that Education City was what I wanted. So I started grade 12 with that motivation and had slightly better scores. However, it was too late. I did not get accepted to any of the three universities I had applied for.
I was devastated at first, but no, I did not let that slow me down or allow me to change my known clear path. I became more determined to reach my goal and to prove myself for me firstly, and for my parents secondly.

After joining the ABP, al-Saadi said she got a lot of chances in various avenues.
ABP offered me the chance to be part of the Debate Club that sent two debate teams to Malaysia to be part of an international competition for the first time in ABP’s history.Another chance ABP offered her was the Model United Nations club, where she met a lot of people around the Globe, and Newsletter club where her name was published for the first time.The most important chance in my perspective is the chance to redeem my grades of high school, where with my hard work, and determination, I’m able to stand in front of you here tonight.I got accepted to four of Education City universities and I am proud to tell you I chose to pursue what my real passion is. I want to be part of making Qatar media a better media globally and that is why I chose to seek my degree in Northwestern University.Al-Saadi urged her fellow graduates to take control of their life.Keep that determination going, never let anything or anyone discourage you,she added.

In her salutatorian speech, Amina Bougaila from Algeria, said:I am proud to say after spending 10 months in ABP that I was privileged to meet wonderful friends who I can trust, and who made me happy each time I saw them. I also learned many things from their generosity, humbleness and strength, especially in our most difficult moments as students.Speaking of difficult moments; I still remember in my first writing class, when we were assigned to read our essays out loud to the class, I was shy and uncomfortable and I refused to talk but here I am now talking not only in front of my class but in front of this large audience.It wasn’t easy for us as students to excel at our studies in ABP while dealing with the process of applying to universities. However, I believe that the harder the conflict is, the more glorious the triumph will be,she said.For Amina, the triumph was when she received her acceptance letter from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.I am finally walking my first steps toward my dream of being a doctor.I believe the education we received at ABP has given us the firm foundation to take those societal goals even further in the coming months and years.Student Association president Fahad Salman al-Thani recounted a highlight of the year’s activities including a carnival that raised over QR31,000 for QF’s Reach Out To Asia. Earlier, ABP director Dr Miles Lovelace opened the event.