HOW QF’S SCHOOLS HAVE SHAPED THE FUTURE OF THEIR GRADUATES
Tribune News Network
Doha
As the Class of 2026 from Qatar Foundation schools prepare to embark on a new chapter in their lives, alumni of one of the schools –Qatar Academy Doha – are reflecting on the moments there that shaped their personalities, broadened their perspectives, and guided them toward successful careers in law to cultural,community work s. and other areas.
The latest graduates from schools under Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Pre-University Education are being celebrated this week at their annual Commencement ceremony. And among those who came before them is lawyer Hamad Al Mannai, a Qatar Academy Doha (QAD) alumnus, who still remembers the day when he spotted his father walking through the school gate. He felt nervous when a classmate whispered to him: “Isn’t that your father?”
Minutes later, Al Mannai was sitting near his father in the principal’s office, listening to a discussion about his academic struggles and the need for him to take responsibility for his future. He recalls that moment as the true turning point – not only because of his father’s words, but also because of the school’s encouragement in helping him realise his potential.
“In that moment, I realised my future depended on me. And that I had to put in the effort to become who I wanted to be,” he says.
Al Mannai says his time at QAD shaped his personality and outlook on life more than any other experience. “I cannot imagine anything that influenced me the way the school did,” he says. “Growing up among a mix of cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities gave me an experience I could never have had anywhere else.”
For all his success in the field of law, Al Mannai says his understanding of what success means has changed significantly over time. In his early years, he associated it with money, jobs, or degrees, but later realised it was far deeper than that. “To me, success means not stopping,” he says. “To keep going despite disappointment, setbacks, and challenges.”
And the message he shares with the Class of 2026 is: “Life is a journey that never stops and never waits for anyone. Don’t be too hard on yourselves, and don’t compare your journey to others. Every person has their own way of succeeding, and every individual has a unique story worth living.”
When she watches this year’s QF school graduates open a new chapter in their lives, Fatema Al Malki, a QAD alumna and a Manager of Qatar Reads, an initiative under Qatar National Library, she finds herself reminiscing on her own journey within the school’s walls – a journey that shaped not only her academic path, but also the way she views the world and herself.
“I see in these graduates many of the same qualities that connected us all – curiosity, ambition, discipline, and a constant desire to give back,” she says. “The school did not just teach us academic subjects; it instilled in us a system of values that stayed with us throughout every stage of our lives.”
More than a decade after graduating, Al Malki continues to reflect on her own school experience through her work with Qatar Reads: “I try to create similar environments for others – spaces where people feel inspired, challenged, and supported at the same time.”
What remains most vivid in Al Malki’s memory is not only what happened inside classrooms at QAD, but also the lessons that extended far beyond them. “I clearly remember how our science classes would move outdoors for experiments, and how history lessons turned into walks among buildings so we could better understand our history and heritage,” she says.
At QAD, achievement was never tied solely to talent, but also to perseverance, research, and problem-solving.
“In math class, we were not allowed to move to the next step until we had reached the solution ourselves,” she explains. “That taught me to always search for solutions rather than focus on obstacles.”
Her message to the Class of 2026 is simple. “Everything you experience today will shape who you become tomorrow. There is a whole world waiting for you,” she says.
