It’s a love-hate relationship. Grade 12 students in the UAE waited anxiously for their results despite the fact that they despise the board exams.
With the results out on Thursday, many of them looked back at their carefree school days with nostalgia and at the same time celebrated the end of school life. Khaleej Times spoke with a cross-section of high achievers from UAE schools.
“I don’t believe marks will get you everywhere in life but it can help get into the best universities. I want to ultimately be a journalist and hope my good results will help me get into a good university. What’s most important in life is satisfaction and that’s what makes you a successful person. If you don’t have that satisfaction, even all the wealth in this world won’t make you happy. My teachers have been very supportive. Honesty, dedication and respect are the three most important things every person should strive for,” says Samreena Ashraf of Delhi Private School, Sharjah, who got 94.8 per cent (Humanities stream).
When I heard that I just lost the UAE second rank by one mark, I didn’t feel bad. My friend got one mark more than me and she came second in the UAE. I was always among the top 5 or 6 in school but my teachers had great expectations of me. I used to work hard and I also believe you need a lot of luck. Different people have different ways of working. I used to stay up late at night and usually sleep at 2am. Be systematic, be regular and don’t keep things for last moment – that’s my advice to the future student batches!,” says, Brinda Davis of Our Own English High School, Dubai who got 97.4 per cent (Science stream).
“Good teachers are very important and they deserve maximum credit for a student’s success. Although they expect a lot, they would never hesitate in helping students who come back with doubts. A lot of teachers have knowledge but the best teachers are the ones who know how to explain concepts with ease. They make it simple and avoid textbook jargons. Students prepare nine months for one examination and they are bound to be good at it. I strongly believe marks from term examinations should also count. Consistent study should be rewarded. For future students, I would just say be obedient to teachers, develop good listening skills and believe in hard work,” says Ramya Raghavan who scored 96.60 per cent at The Indian High School, Dubai, (Commerce Stream).
muaz@khaleejtimes.com