Meet Habiba, a Japanese-Palestinian student among UAE's Top 10 achievers

Gulf Today

29-06-2025

Habiba Yasser Qudeih, a Japanese-Palestinian student at Al-Shurouq Private School in the UAE, expressed indescribable joy and gratitude after being named among the top achievers in the UAE's general education track. Habiba attributed her success to years of hard work, unwavering faith, and the unwavering support of her family, school, and teachers. She explained that excelling academically had been her goal since the start of high school, and she pursued it with determination. She credited her success to meticulous time management, consistent revision, a focus on understanding lessons rather than mere memorization and benefitting from digital educational resources provided by the UAE's Ministry of Education.
She dedicated her achievement to her family, stating: "They stood by me every step of the way, providing the support and motivation I needed to overcome challenges and psychological pressures during a tense and ambitious academic year'.
Regarding her future plans, Habiba stated: "I haven't decided on a university yet, but I intend to study Clinical Psychology. I believe in the importance of mental health and its role in building balanced and healthy societies'.
In a message to fellow students, she advised: "Believe in yourselves and be patient. Success doesn't come easily; it's the result of determination, sincere intention, and genuine effort'.
About her Japanese citizenship, Habiba explained that her father studied and worked in Japan, earning his master's and doctorate degrees there. She was born and spent her childhood in Japan, completing her primary education in the country.