As graduation approaches, students from Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education schools are preparing to begin a new chapter in their lives, carrying with them academic and personal experiences that have shaped their character and future aspirations. Through academics, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and international opportunities, these students reflect on how their educational journey helped them develop their skills, strengthen their self-confidence, and prepare for university and beyond.

Between academics, sports, competitions, and student-led initiatives, Ayoub Benchaabane made his years at Qatar Academy Doha (QAD) a journey that extended beyond the classroom. By taking advantage of opportunities offered through Qatar Foundation (QF), he developed his interests, leadership skills, and personal growth.

Now preparing for the next stage of his academic journey, Benchaabane reflects proudly on the experiences that shaped him. “I feel very excited about what lies ahead, while also feeling proud of everything I achieved throughout my educational journey,” he says.

During his time at QAD, he balanced academics with extracurricular activities, 

participating in mathematics competitions, Model United Nations conferences, and representing QF in a basketball championship in China.

Benchaabane says these experiences taught him leadership, teamwork, and discipline, while helping him become a more well-rounded person. He also credits QF with strengthening his academic and personal skills in an environment that encouraged growth and development.

To fellow graduates, he shares one message: high school is not simply the end of a phase, but an experience that continues shaping their future. He hopes future students embrace every opportunity available to them, build meaningful connections, and continue challenging themselves both academically and personally throughout their educational journeys ahead.

Since her early years at Qatar Academy Al Wakra, Amna Jassim Al Marzouqi has experienced a journey shaped by friendships, learning, and opportunities that strengthened her confidence and character. Reflecting on her school years, she says: “It has been a very beautiful experience. I learned so much about life and academics.”

As graduation approaches, Al Marzouqi describes her emotions as “mixed feelings,” explaining: “I don’t want to leave school, but at the same time I feel proud that I reached this stage and accomplished it.”

Throughout her years at school, she developed research, critical thinking, communication, and time management skills, while participating in charity initiatives, arts, sports, and after-school activities. She says she especially enjoyed experiences that combined “teamwork and community service,” adding that the school always encouraged students to explore opportunities beyond academics.

Al Marzouqi is now preparing to study Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, one of Qatar Foundation’s partner universities. She believes staying within Education City will allow her to continue building relationships in a diverse environment.

She concludes with advice to fellow students: “It’s important for students to balance academics and their personal lives” and enjoy every stage of their educational journey.

Between challenges, memories, and personal growth, Engy Ashraf views her graduation from Qatar Academy Al Khor as a milestone that shaped her character and prepared her for the future. Reflecting on her school years, she says: “I went through everything a person could experience at school, from stress and sadness to joy and happiness.” She adds: “I feel like I built a family, not just friendships.”

As graduation approaches, Ashraf describes her emotions as a mixture of excitement and nostalgia. “I’m excited for what’s coming next, but at the same time, I’ll miss the teachers, my friends, and all the memories we shared together,” she says.

Throughout her years at school, Ashraf faced challenges but credits her family and teachers for supporting her academically and emotionally. She believes her experience extended beyond academics, helping her build confidence, communication skills, and independence through the International Baccalaureate system and activities such as the Global Peace Summit in Thailand.

Looking ahead, Ashraf says: “I’m grateful to have reached this stage, and I feel that every challenge and experience helped shape the person I am today.” She hopes to continue learning, meeting new people, and using her experiences to positively impact others worldwide someday.

For Salman Ahmed Al Jehani, a graduate of Qatar Leadership Academy, school was a journey shaped by discipline, responsibility, and leadership. Reflecting on his experience, he says: “It was a completely new and different experience for me, but it helped me face challenges, become more independent, and go through experiences that shaped my personality in a significant way.”

Al Jehani believes the academy played a major role in preparing him for university life through an environment that combined academics, discipline, and personal development. “The academy prepares us for university life from every aspect – academically and personally – and also helps us identify our goals and choose the right fields of study,” he explains.

For Al Jehani, graduation represents both an achievement and a new beginning. “Graduation, for me, marks the end of a long journey of effort and the beginning of a new stage that we have been well prepared for,” he says.

He encourages younger students to make the most of every opportunity available to them and continue developing themselves academically and personally as they prepare for future challenges and responsibilities ahead in life and university.

For Fatima Abdullah Al Kuwari, a graduate of Awsaj Academy, graduation reflects years of learning, challenges, and meaningful relationships that helped shape her personality and future aspirations. Reflecting on her journey, she says: “I feel extremely proud to have reached this stage after spending 12 years at school.” At the same time, she admits feeling sad about leaving behind “people who felt like family.”

Al Kuwari describes Awsaj Academy as more than just a school environment, explaining: “I built very close relationships with my teachers and classmates, and everyone was always supportive of me, so the school truly felt like a second home.”

Throughout her educational journey, she participated in Model United Nations conferences, human rights initiatives, and environmental and sustainability projects that contributed to the school receiving the Green Flag award as part of the Eco-Schools program.

She believes these experiences strengthened her confidence and communication skills. “I learned how to speak confidently and become more aware of other people’s feelings and circumstances,” she says.

Al Kuwari encourages fellow graduates to persevere through challenges, emphasizing that difficulties are simply part of the journey toward personal growth, confidence, and success in life and future academic experiences ahead.

For Sirin Hamouda, a graduate of Qatar Academy for Science and Technology, graduation represents more than the end of school – it reflects years of growth and experiences within Qatar Foundation. “Right now, I feel happiness more than anything else,” she says, adding that receiving her diploma will bring “completely different emotions” after spending most of her life at QF.

Throughout her educational journey, Hamouda developed communication, leadership, and teamwork skills through organizing events and participating in volunteer work. Reflecting on these experiences, she says: “Over time I became eager to take part in every volunteering opportunity available to me, because I realized these experiences help me grow and give me new perspectives.”

Hamouda also credits QF’s diverse environment with broadening her horizons and strengthening her ability to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds. This experience influenced her decision to study Communication at Northwestern University in Qatar, one of QF’s partner universities.

Looking ahead, Hamouda says she feels ready and confident about the future. “I’m very excited about university life, and I feel ready to start a new chapter in a way I never imagined before,” she says.