For the next four years, I am going to study to two different subjects: a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Commerce (in Management and Commercial Law) at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
I earned a full scholarship from the Oman Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) in August to study Law specifically in New Zealand. I will be leaving Oman in January 2018 to start in the summer course of these programs.
Even though this option was the sixth on my list of choices (forty), I was quite surprised that the MOHE gave it to me – when my first five choices were all local universities. Although both of these majors were my plan B and C, I am very pleased and happy with them as they are the perfect fit for me.
While waiting for university to start, I am assisting some first and third grade ABIS classes in reading, writing and mathematics.
Q: Can you describe the process that led you to obtain a scholarship?
The system run by MOHE has a way of sorting out the students’ choice based on the grades – from highest to lowest. Each program (there are around a hundred) has its’ own grade criteria based on the university in each specific country. I am the only Omani student this year who qualified into the law program in New Zealand because of three main things: overall IB score; IB English score; IELTS exam score. To say the least, getting accepted into a program of choice is not easy – since it is a national competition for seats between all students who are my age.
Q: How has ABIS prepared you for the opportunities and challenges of tertiary education and beyond?
I have been in ABIS for six years. Each year has helped me explore various options and experiences, both inside and outside the classroom walls. Inside the classroom, I have had the choice of subjects that I have asked for (based on my aspiring career interests) since tenth grade onwards.
Having a full range of subjects from the different subject groups in IB has helped me in the way of allowing me to choose alternative paths instead of only one set path.
Outside the classroom, being part of the Student Council founding committee and its president for a year helped me strengthen and be more aware of my management, leadership (and sometimes argumentative) abilities. This had influenced me to make changes to my career aspirations based on my interests and strengths. Joining (and running) other After School Activities had also helped me in knowing more about myself as a person.
My teachers have all once said I’d run the world one day. I say that I am working on it!
