ABU DHABI // If he could go back in time 18-year-old Abdullah would not have given up on his studies.
But looking back at the challenging events in his life, it is easy to understand why he did it.
When he was in Grade 6, Abdullah was held back and forced to repeat the grade.
He said he found little support from his school community. “The teachers, they were not good to me, that’s why,” he said.
The trauma of seeing his friends continue to the next level while he was left behind was psychologically scarring, he said. He had a hard time accepting it. He wanted to drop out even then.
“I tried to stop but my mom and dad wouldn’t let me,” he said. They continued to drive him to school every day, not knowing that on many of those days he would wait for their car to roll out of sight before skipping school to join his friends at coffee shops.
As the years progressed, Abdullah continued to harbour ill will towards academic life. He began missing more and more classes.
When his parents divorced, things became worse.
“That made a big change – this is something that made me drop out of school,” he said.
By the time he was in high school, his chronic absenteeism was no longer tolerated and he was expelled. His parents convinced the school to take him back, but he quit for good at the end of Grade 9.
Abdullah now regrets it all. “I would have been graduating this year,” he said. “I have my cousin who is younger than me and he’s going to graduate this year.”
He advises other students who are going through tough times and thinking of dropping out to reconsider. “Do not stop school because you are going to regret it later, you are going to regret it so much,” he said. “If you don’t study in this life, you’re not going to do anything in your life. You’re going to see other people, they are having a good life, and you have nothing.”
Now a mature young man, Abdullah refuses to give up. He says he will return to school in the autumn to complete his education.
“I’m going to be there and I’m going to finish my high school,” he said. He also aspires to travel to America to pursue further studies.
Abdullah credits his mother for always offering him love and guidance. “I have my mom’s support, she always advised me to go and to do something. She always told me, ‘This is your life, I’m not going to always be here for you’,” he said.
“I’m the man of the house. My dad is not here, so I am going to be here for my family.
rpennington@thenational.ae
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
MATCH INFO
Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 4
Osasuna: García (14')
Real Madrid: Isco (33'), Ramos (38'), Vázquez (84'), Jovic (90' 2)
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
