Nine years ago, in the first grade of middle school in 2011, the supervisor of student activities and the supervisor of gifted students at my government school in one of the governorates of the Qassim region (Al-Muznib) told me, “You have no excuse today for not having what you want to learn about programming, building robots, and tinkering with your innovations. Today, we have programs for gifted students.”
That moment was the most adrenaline-pumping and euphoric moment of my life, a moment that overwhelmed me with a torrent of joyful and cheerful feelings. Finally, talent support was no longer limited to students in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, but also reached my small governorate that many do not know about. My eyes were comforted after monotonous and traditional elementary years that did not fulfill my postponed dreams. Since that moment, I registered in every program that could be registered in: English, robotics, public speaking and self-improvement courses. Finally, the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity - Research Track, which was the most influential in my educational stage.
I called my uncle, an engineer who runs one of the water stations in the area, and told him that I had an idea that required research and implementation in the factory. He agreed with his unlimited support and we immediately started implementing it. We won the first phase and lost the second. This was not an obstacle, as I never stopped or diminished my value for a single day.
The following year, the Gifted Center contacted me to start another research I wanted to start. They asked me what I needed and connected me to the university to work in their labs. The director of the center was the one who took me there and back (150 kilometers) each time.
When judging the projects, one of the senior inventors visited me to prove his point of view that the research of young students, no matter how hard they put in it, is marked by failure and he must tell them so.. And indeed he was; he looked at me while I was explaining at length, admiring what I had done, then he interrupted me and told me: "This is research by senior people, you are not the one who did it and it is still up to you" with a squinting look, and he left.
It was a moment of solemn silence, and a tear welled up in my eye socket that had not left. A few seconds later, the director of the center and my number one supporter held my hand. He looked at me for a while and said in the tone of a father to his son: “Ahmed, if you don’t win the competition… you will have a future. I know you and I am betting on you.” I won first place in the region, then the Aramco International Special Award, and over the years I got to know the elite students of the nation (through Mawhiba).
Experimental sciences were not the real dream, but rather a means and an available opportunity that did not slip from my hands. I represented the Kingdom in the National Dialogue, stood on the podium to give speeches in front of the Emir of Qassim and Riyadh regions on several occasions, won the Legal Debate Award at the university, and the Debate Award of the Debate Academy at the Kingdom level as well, trained students on public speaking and argument making in cooperation with the Misk Charity Foundation, and two years ago contributed to the establishment of the Wateen platform, and managed its operations to become the national platform for blood donation and first place in the King Khalid Charity Award.
Today, I am starting my final year in the law major. I have supervised the activities of its specialized clubs, contributed to developing high school students into leaders through the “Qaed” program, and worked as a freelance writer for a number of start-up companies.
Finally, this is God’s grace and generosity, and Mawhiba’s contribution with its enrichment programs in shaping my identity, building my personality, and training me to confront and face challenges. What you do today, you will see tomorrow.
16 Jul 2024
