A Syrian refugee has graduated as a dux or valedictorian from an Australian high school just two years after he started learning English.
Saad Al-Kassab received 96.65 on an Australian college admissions test and has been offered scholarship by Monash University in Melbourne. He intends to study medicine or biomedicine.
Saad and his family fled Homs, Syria in 2013. He said that he had poor English language skills when he arrived in Australia in 2014. However, today Saad was celebrated as dux of Catholic Regional College Sydenham after he aced the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) with his score.
"To be honest, I was expecting a high score, but it felt so good to see it," Saad said. "I felt really happy. I was just overwhelmed," he added.
Saad said that he started learning English after reaching Australia in June 2014. He used to watch Question Time in Parliament with his brother Omar and joined the Scouts to develop his comprehension, reported ABC News.
"The way they speak, they speak proper English. They speak slowly, so you can catch words," Saad said. He persisted for four months and finally got into one of the largest Catholic schools in Australia.
"I think the hardest part was getting into school. The community was lovely with me. I'm really grateful for being given the opportunity to be able to come to Australia and study here. Despite all the difficulties, I was given a new life. I really wish I can pay it back one day," Saad said.
He also worked as a gardener in the school and was one of almost 50,000 students in Victoria to get Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) in 2016.
"Completing VCE is a significant achievement and I congratulate all of our Year 12 students — you should be very proud of what you have achieved," State Education Minister James Merlino said. Around 98 percent students received the VCE.
"If you didn't get the results you wanted, seek advice from your school and remember there are many pathways to success in life," Merlino added.
