BATCH: MAY/JUNE 2021

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Dear Rosy miss,

Assalamualaikum. I hope you and your family are doing well. So much time has elapsed since I last saw you, almost a year or even more. Sometimes when I am passing by the school, I stop and take a walk. I miss the vibrant atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of children. The essence of the school seems to be lost. But if you were to see my gloomy face, you would probably tell me to stand up straight and smile, I’m sure of it.

I’m very excited to inform you that I have been accepted into The University of Mississippi on a 55% scholarship. I’ve also been accepted into the Provost’s Scholar Program which provides additional benefits like being able to attend special workshops and seminars on leadership, public speaking, etc. None of this would have been possible without you and the support of my teachers.

I am fortunate to have a principal who is akin to family. You often push me to be my best and never forget to remind me of my infinite potential. I remember that you would point your index finger upwards, at an angle, and say, “I want to see you up there.” Then, you would slowly point the same finger downwards, at an angle, and say, “Not there.” A warm smile would accompany the speech every time. You taught me to dream bigger, to aspire higher towards excellence.

In a way, you also taught me that I mattered. I wasn’t just another brick in the wall, you knew me personally. In fact, I believe you know all of your students individually. Such is your love for us. You would often tell us that you would sit on the prayer mat praying for each and every one of us. You would also tell us how you denied students who did not meet the standard of our school. I don’t know how others interpreted it, but I always saw it as your protectiveness of us like how a lioness defends her cubs.

Dear Rosy miss, I cannot begin to tell you how blessed I am to have you as my principal and mentor. Thank you very much. You have played a significant role in my life and will continue to do so in the future inshaa’Allah.

Respectfully Yours,

Zahin Rafidee Islam.

Dear Teachers,

Assalamualaikum. I hope you and your familes are doing well. Today I am writing to you to inform you that I have been accepted into The University of Mississippi on a 55% scholarship. I’ve also been accepted into the Provost’s Scholar Program which provides additional benefits like being able to attend special workshops and seminars on leadership, public speaking, etc. None of this would have been possible without the support of my teachers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank some of my teachers by name. However, the teachers who have helped me in my journey are not limited to these names. The letter would become too long if I were to include each and every one who was kind enough to lend me a helping hand. So, before I start, I would like to say thank you to everyone who was with me till now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You know who you are.

From the time that I have met her, Nausheen miss has been an ardent well-wisher to me. Even though I rarely stood out in class, I remember that when my health started to deteriorate due to the pressures of O’ levels, she was the first to notice. I felt seen and taken care of when she advised me to eat healthier and not take too much stress. It’s something that I will probably never forget. She was also kind enough to write me my recommendation letter and check my essay.

I am also grateful to Alauddin sir for introducing chemistry to me in a fun and enjoyable way. Sometimes he would demonstrate chemistry concepts via experiments while we would stand by his side watching this amazing teacher. “Why are the chemicals colored?”, I would wonder, “Why does a color change occur when we mix certain chemicals together?” I was brimming with curiosity. Not only did Alauddin sir get me and my classmates interested in Chemistry, he also helped us sustain it till the end.

Out of all the teachers I’ve had, I have never witnessed a teacher as patient and determined to explain concepts as Mohiuddin sir. He would try his utmost to explain concepts and would keep on explaining until we got it. A related memory comes to mind.

I was in tenth grade at that time and the bell signalling the start of break time had rung. However, I still hadn’t understood a certain concept thoroughly. Seeing my dissatisfaction, sir asked if I was free. After I replied in the affirmative, he took me with him to eleventh grade where he made me sit with my seniors and attempted to explain the concepts in a different manner, sometimes drawing diagrams to aid in my understanding. Truly, I am blessed to have teachers like Mohiuddin sir.

Speaking of teachers I have been blessed with, another teacher comes to mind: Chanchal sir. I have been studying under Chanchal sir since ninth grade and a large part of my good understanding of Mathematics can be attributed to him. He would make us practice mathematics so much that there was no way we couldn’t be good at mathematics. He truly had the best interest of students in his heart. But mathematics is not the only thing I learned from him. I learned to courageously speak up my mind and to stand up for myself and my opinions. His strength of character has rubbed off me and has made me a stronger person who is ready to face the challenges ahead.

There is one more sir that I would like to mention by name. That teacher is Ashfaque sir. To others, he may seem like a distant person sitting by himself in the quaint office in front of the school building. It is easy to be intimidated by him. Admittedly, I used to fear him a bit when he used to teach me mathematics in grade 5. But as I matured, so did my relationship with him. He was the person who helped me out the most during my college applications. Without his sincerity, patience and hard work, I would still be stuck slogging through my applications.

Dear teachers, over the years I have grown into a capable individual who is able to navigate the mysterious thing called life under your guidance. I am thankful for all the lessons you imparted, the inspiring stories you shared and the words of encouragement you gave me. Thank you again and keep me in your prayers.

Respectfully Yours,

Zahin Rafidee Islam.

O/A Level results of May/June 2020

Letter from Mashiat