A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A 12TH GRADE STUDENT

by Aljawhara Aljomiha and Hebah Naim

“Time moves quickly.” Shahd Rashid says, “so enjoy the moments you have [now].” In order to move forward in life, Shahd believes it’s necessary to view life, “…from the bigger picture and allow yourself to learn what you want to do to move forward in your life.”

Shahd Rashid is a senior student in the high school department of Shorouq Al-Mamlakah International School. Throughout her transition from high school to college life, she emphasizes taking, “as many opportunities as you can,” trying, “as many new hobbies as possible,” and allowing, “yourself to be a teenager.” Shahd takes joy in many things, like playing sports and reading, but is always on the lookout for new hobbies and skills to try out.

A typical day for Shahd is divided into three parts: school, work, and leisure time. She typically gets up around six in the morning to prepare for school and is on her way by 6:45 am. From 7:30 am up until 12:45 pm, she attends Shorouq Al-Mamlakah International School, where she’s currently taking 5 core subjects that include English, mathematics, biology, physics, and chemistry.

Shahd participates in a few after-school activities. Each day, she’s either running a journalism meeting for the SAMIS Journal, SAMIS’s journalism organization, or participating in Sports Club, where she serves as Head Officer, helping the members and herself improve their volleyball skills through practice. She arrives home between 1:45 and 2:15 p.m. and begins any schoolwork or administrative duties she has to complete; during this time, she also finishes any unfinished personal responsibilities. By the time 6:00 pm rolls around, she’ll have finished her work and eaten dinner. After a busy day, she spends the remainder of her night unwinding and prepping for the next day. For high school seniors, stress can come from anywhere. Senioritis, best explained by Shahd as, “the lack of motivation that is attained by students when they reach the end of their course/school life”, can undeniably put students on the edge. Senioritis in high school may prevent incoming first-year college students from being adequately prepared for the rigors of college-level studies and may decrease their chances of securing entrance scholarships. Luckily, for Shahd, senioritis is something she hasn’t been as affected by as most might think. “On the contrary, I’m reaching even higher, because I recognize that high school is not the end and there still is a

Shahd believes that you choose to shut down now, reaching future goals and attaining the motivation you’ll be needing to get to those goals, later on, will be even more difficult. “It’s all about finding a balance of not burning yourself out now and still producing enough trust and motivation for yourself to prepare you

She plans to go to university and study a degree in technology. While she may have ideas on how this will be achieved, she doesn’t manifest anything concrete, as she might just run into something better.

While discussing her future goals, Shahd acknowledges that change is inevitable in her life. “You can never 100% prepare for the future no matter how hard you plan; you must expect that changes could always occur, creating roadblocks or even new opportunities you didn’t consider initially. So while I may have a base plan, I’m always on the lookout for that one change that could turn my life 180°.”

Senior year, according to Shahd, is the most significant year of your life, as, “you are building the next chapter of your book and slowly closing the pages on the current one.” She urges one to focus on themselves though, “it can be tempting to follow your friends through thick and thin,” but, “it is your own goals that matter the most to you, and you are the only person capable of getting yourself there.”

Shahd understands that you are both excited and nervous, overwhelmed yet can’t get enough of it. But to incoming seniors, remember: the next chapter of the book will be incomplete without the knowledge gained in this one. So read through every detail! Don’t be so anxious about the future that you completely forget to live the life you have now. “Because once the chapter is really over, that day of graduation, these are the moments that will help you decide your future.” am not just a woman”

Expressing my thoughts loud and clear, confidence is my greatest spear; I am not just a woman, I am a superwoman!

All insecurities will disappear, I will conquer and overcome my fear, I am not just a woman, I am an empowered woman!

“The World in my Head”

by Minnah Zubairi

Not real. The world in my head isn’t real I know but… The world in my head Has Dragons and knights Wizards and castles Magic and life beyond belief

In my head

I’m the queen

In my head I slay the dragon

In my head I save the world

In my head I’m everything I want For the world is just in my head

“A PHENOMENAL WOMAN”

Beauty - a gift from heaven! Enticing power and strength, Covered by wisdom and grace Walked by faith and confidence.

Skills have been discriminated But get back up, and ignore Able to enslave mankind; Indeed, a phenomenal woman.

Queen

As she finds herself

The more she knows she’s worthy Indeed, a true queen