JEDDAH – A colorful ceremony, filled with grandeur and glory, featured the International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) graduation ceremony for its outgoing class 12 students recently. Dressed in their ceremonial gowns, a total of 523 students received their course completion certificates in the presence of their parents and mentors at the packed IISJ boy's section auditorium.
The function was replete with inspiring speeches of dignitaries on how to build a successful career in future, and luminous experiences of student leaders on how they have reached that level par excellence.
Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak was the chief guest and Somayya Jabarti, editor in chief of Saudi Gazette, was the guest of honor. Mohamed Abdul Raziq, chairman of the managing committee, spoke at the function, in which members of the school managing committee were also present.
In his speech, Mubarak advised the passing out students to stick to their values, respect their elders and learn new things in life. He compared the value-based life to a kite that will fly high as long as it is connected to the line. “When the kite line is broken, the kite will fall and so is the case with life with no values. When the connection line is broken the kite goes away without any direction and the same happens with life when it is not attached with values.”
Mubarak urged students to choose properly their future course of studies based on their aptitude and career prospects. “There are a lot of options and avenues in front of you, and so concentrate on the area where you have more interest. Any professional management wants to hire those who have a passion in their work and they expect immediate output from the employees, and hence how best you can provide is crucial,” he said. Mubarak advised the students to give more emphasis on content than the container. “A value-based life is the content, while money, jobs etc. are the tools that make life more comfortable and happier and hence they are the container.”
In her inspiring speech, Jabarti, the keynote speaker, instantly connected with the students and shared with them gems of knowledge that she had gathered from her life experiences. She said there are mainly five gems of knowledge for ideal growth and personality development. “Experience is the best teacher for me and for everybody in scoring success in life”.
Going down memory lane, she recalled her habit of writing down major daily events and life experiences in a diary. This helped her to plan for everything in life, and she considered this as the first gem. Life also taught her that everyone gets same opportunities and their proper utilization is the key to success, and this she identified as the second gem. According to Jabarti, the third gem is what qualities that differentiate one person from the other. “Everyone is different from each other in many respects. What should make me different from others is important.” She also highlighted the significance of values in shaping one's life in the best manner, saying that character is foremost.
The teenage graduates gave Jabarti a round of applause when she explained the fifth gem with an advice to parents to befriend their wards while grooming them at this crucial period of their life with a quote from second Caliph of Islam, Umar bin Khattab. “During the first seven years you play with them. In the second seven years you discipline them and in the third seven years you befriend them.” Jabarti urged students to have full confidence in their capabilities and properly use time as it is precious in deciding success in everybody's life.
In his felicitation speech, Abdul Raziq reminded the students that the senior secondary school graduation is not the end of the academic journey but a major intersection where they have to choose the best career-oriented courses that shape their future life. He urged students to concentrate on studies that help achieve great goals of life.
The chairman congratulated teachers, parents and children for the school's outstanding performance in both curricular and co-curricular domains. “The managing committee will continue to work hand in hand with the school staff to maintain this excellence. We are also striving to solve the problem of giving admission to all the applicants by finding a big campus, and hopefully we would come out with a positive outcome in the near future,” he said.
Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Syed Masood Ahmed, principal of IISJ, advised the students to be confident and courageous in times of difficulties. In an impassioned, yet thought-provoking speech Ahmed said: We are proudly presenting over 500 energetic and talented young men and women to the society. For us, it took 14 years of relentless and untiring efforts to mold them in a way achieving all round development of their personality as well as to enable them to cope with the challenges in their real life and devote themselves in serving the society.
He continued: All what we have done were to make you what you are today. You are going to face challenges in life. You have to realize challenges, and be prepared for meeting them. If you have courage and confidence, you can win over. You are at the crucial juncture of your life and don't be puzzled while choosing your way of direction. There is nothing in this world that you cannot overcome.” He concluded his speech with an advice to his pupils: “Don't forget parents and don't let them down. Also don't get into distractions, and always thank society and do something for it.”
Earlier, the program began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur'an by Ameen Mohammed and translation by Maazin. The School Cabinet gave a floral welcome to the guests of the evening. Head Boy Mohammed Maniyar, Head Girl Sumaiya Fatima, Taha Ameen, literary secretary for boys, and Khadija Haris Koya, literary secretary for girls, delivered their farewell speeches that were reminiscent of their eventful school life.
Delighted parents watched their wards in admiration as they received their certificates from the distinguished guests of the evening – Mubarak and Jabarti. The graduates, including 284 girls, beamed with confidence that they are ready to face the upcoming Central Board of Secondary School exams and with a sense of achievement as they moved on to a new chapter of their lives with a determination to meet the challenges in the real life.
Special awards were given to toppers of CBSE schools in the Gulf in the AIISSCE exams conducted in March 2014. Master Raqib Hasan Khan bagged the second position in Science stream and Abin Raji Varghese topped the Commerce stream. Huraira Khaleeq secured the second position and Raza Hyder and Challotte Mathew shared the third position in the Commerce stream.
There was also a presentation of video titled ‘Graduation Day Wishes” highlighting glimpses to the students' major activities and achievements during the academic year. While proposing a vote of thanks, Vice Principal Dr. Najeeb Qais Ammar wished the students success in the upcoming board exams as well as in their lives. Vice Principal Farhathunnisa, Headmaster Noufal Palakkoth, Headmistress Rita Sharma and other teachers, school officials, members from the press, parents and students attended the ceremony. Maria Das Arackal Thomas and Bushra Zaidi were the anchors.
