JEDDAH, 5 June 2004 — Lined up in their caps and gowns they seemed suddenly older and sophisticated. Perhaps it was the somber black fabric of their graduation attire that bestowed upon the young men and women at Al-Waha International School an air of maturity. While the graduates definitely stood taller, as the ceremony progressed it became clear that more often than not the smiles on their faces were simply camouflage for the uncertainty filling their hearts.

Private English schools have done a great service to hundreds of thousands of expatriate families in the Kingdom. The quality of education offered to Al-Waha’s students is a prime example of that. On Thursday night, the second group of students from the school graduated with aplomb. It was an emotional ceremony. Poised to enter into a new world, the “O” level students put on their best for the occasion. Nearly all the school’s teachers and staff had turned out to wish them well and the students’ parents in the audience were the most enthusiastic cheerleaders of all.

The chief guest on the occasion, Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled Al-Maeena delivered a commencement address advising the students to hold fast to their beliefs and stay true to themselves as they faced life’s many hurdles.

“It is a bad, bad world out there,” he said. “You will need all the strength and wisdom that you have gained at this school to stand you in good stead in the life ahead.”

Al-Maeena recalled his school days and said things were easier in those times.

“It is a very challenging and competitive world now but hard work and perseverance will be the key to success,” he said. “The need of the hour is to be tolerant and compassionate. One without the other will be incomplete. These two things have become rarer these days and much of the world’s problems stem from the lack of tolerance and compassion.

He said he is what he is today “because of my teachers. I will forever remain indebted to them. You also must realize the hardships that your parents have faced and are facing to give you a better tomorrow. As the saying goes, be nice to people when you are going up as you surely are going to meet them when you are coming down.”

In her address, Senior Vice Principal Rubab Azad acknowledged the efforts put in by the teachers and the administrative staff of the school. “We at Al-Waha have always been striving to achieve exemplary results. The aim is to contribute good citizens to the world.” She had a special word of praise for former Director Tahira Ghias who she said was always available to guide the school in the right direction.

Al-Waha’s Director Zia Nadwi pointed out that the motto of the school is “Rabbi Zidni Ilman” (Oh Lord, Increase My Knowledge). He said it is the quest of this motto that the school has been forging ahead, adding that Al-Waha has carved a niche for itself in the Jeddah because of the dedication of its teachers.

“No school can run without them,” Nadwi emphasized. “They are a key element to our success.” His voice was almost choking when he addressed the outgoing students. “We kept threatening you with all kinds of things, suspension letters, warning letters and what not. All those things were meant to make the best of you. To make you all nice human beings and to honor the trust placed in the school by your parents.”

One of the parents, Dr. Dilshad Ahmed Shamsie, spoke on the occasion. He drew Al-Maeena’s attention to the bigger problem of expatriates. He said expatriate parents looked forward to the graduation ceremonies of their children with a lot of trepidation. This is mostly because expatriate students have no avenues of higher studies here in the Kingdom. As a result it is necessary for these students to leave the Kingdom for higher studies — either returning to their homelands or enrolling in colleges and institutes in other Gulf states. He received sustained applause for these remarks because the issue touches almost every expatriate in the Kingdom.

When the ceremony concluded there were handshakes and hugs, but there were also tears. As the Al-Waha students march into the future, Arab News wishes them all success.