What would you like to tell the seniors who are graduating this year?
First, to the girls: I would like to remind you to keep saying these three sentences: I can, I will, WATCH ME! Becoming a strong woman in this generation does not mean conquering the men’s world and losing sight of your femininity. It means that you don’t have to emulate men to be able to compete with and be equal to them. You don’t have to wear a suit and dark colors to be empowered. Be yourself without infringing others. As for the boys, please recognize the value of the women in your lives, whether they’re your mom, sister, or even your better halves, and become a voice for them, because one of the greatest strengths is having men stand up for women.
What are the three best things you think you’ve done in Mawakeb?
Are you kidding? You are the best things! Our students are the best things in this school. There is nothing that beats that; it’s the first, second, and third best thing, because everything else fades away, and I would do the same job under a tree, but I’d still be happy.
How would you define yourself and what is the main thing we should know about you?
As students, one thing you should know about me is that I am happy to support you any day, any time for the rest of my life. I’ve said this many times, but our students know that graduation is not the end of their story with us; it is just the beginning of a new story. And the way I define myself is wacky and sometimes a lunatic, and different. However ,in general, I define myself by what I do, so my job defines me a lot. If anyone says, ‘Alissar’, the association will always be what she has done for her students.
The Khawaneej campus opened this year. How do you feel when you see that the school you graduated from is progressively growing and that you’re a part of the growth?
How do I feel? I feel like the queen of the world because in Khawaneej we’re able to do things that we couldn’t in my days at school because of certain limitations, couldn’t do in ISAS because of many limitations, couldn’t do in Barsha because it was too late, so Khawaneej was like a wishlist. Everything I wanted in a school was achieved in the Khawaneej campus. We are still learning, though, and I think if we were to build another school, it’ll be better.
How do you empower the teachers in our school?
The concept of how you empower can be illusive sometimes because I don’t remember specific moments where I was empowered more than when I wanted to find my inner voice and do what I want. I realized that some people need to be given that push, so with teachers, from the minute they get hired, I tell them: “I trust you, I know you can, now go be the teachers you wanted to have for yourself.”
Since you studied abroad, do you think it’s a better option to stay with your family or study abroad?
I don’t think I can generalize an opinion on this because it depends; it’s a case-by-case issue. However, if it is possible, I recommend for you to go overseas because I wish for you experiences that are not necessarily just academic. I wish for you to know how to manage your finances; I wish for you to run out of socks because you didn’t do your own laundry; I wish for you to experience the horrendously cold weather where you still have to make it to class. You don’t get these experiences when you stay close to family because mom is still going to iron your shirts, cook, and help you with laundry.