Top Qatari student joins Texas A&M at Qatar’s Class of 2016
Published Jun 21, 2012When searching for future Aggies, Texas A&M University at Qatar looks for students with the potential to excel academically and contribute to the extracurricular life of the Aggie community. One such student is Maryam Mohammed Abdullah, an incoming Qatari freshman in the Class of 2016.
Abdullah was recently awarded the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance 2012 for the State of Qatar. This award is presented to an exceptional student in Qatar who shows remarkable commitment to academics as well as dedication to extracurricular activities. Abdullah’s excellence in both made her a strong applicant for the award and to Texas A&M at Qatar.
Applicants for this award must impress the judges with an outstanding interview. Abdullah says she emphasized the importance of caring about grades and as well as other activities in her interview. "The perfect student is able to balance studies and hobbies," she said.
Abdullah achieved top results in her studies while devoting herself to extracurricular activities as well. "I participated in Arabic language research with teachers and classmates," she said. "I volunteered in events and activities both inside and outside the school."
Amidst her many hobbies, Abdullah says her favorite is writing. "I write articles and stories in both Arabic and English." She takes a special interest in social issues, writing mostly about children’s and women’s rights.
"I began writing at a young age," she said. "When my Arabic teacher saw a talent within me, she encouraged me to continue writing and enter competitions." To improve her writing level, Abdullah began reading stories and novels, first in Arabic and then in English. After becoming proficient in reading both languages, she started writing her own novels and stories. "I continued going back to my teachers, asking them to give me their comments in order to improve my writing," Abdullah added.
What motivated a writer like Abdullah to apply to an engineering university? Abdullah says she wants to become a chemical engineer so that she can help fulfill the Qatar National Vision 2030. "I hope Texas A&M University at Qatar will give me an opportunity to become one of the successful engineers building the future of Qatar."
Her persistence in learning to write well and excel inside and outside the classroom are strong indicators Abdullah has the skills and motivation to reach this goal. As a member of the Class of 2016, Abdullah is already excited to be part of Texas A&M at Qatar’s mission of educational excellence, knowledge generation and service to her country.
Story by Nicole Smith