HAT'S MY BOY !

SCHOOLBOY Arsal Sohail has won a full scholarship to study at a prestigious international college in Canada much to the delight of his parents Sohail and Rabia Asghar, writes Anasuya Kesavan.

He is one of three 16-year-old students studying in Bahrain who have been invited to join the brightest and best young people from around the world for a two-year international academic adventure.

Arsal, from Pakistan, will be joined by Nabeel Mohammed, from Bahrain, and Jeanice Vacarizas, from the Philippines, who have accepted similar places at United World Colleges (UWC) in the UK and the US.

UWC is renowned for developing 'global citizens and tomorrow's leaders' through its intensive two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) programme and wider social commitment of making education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

THE three teenagers offered the chance to join United World Colleges in Europe and North America say they can't wait to become 'global citizens'.

Arsal Sohail, Nabeel Mohammed and Jeanice Vacarizas, all aged 16, start their UWC placements in September.

Applications are now invited annually from Bahraini nationals and long-term residents. Last year there was only one opening and it went to Bahraini student Yasser Hammadi. He won a partly-funded scholarship to Armand Hammer United World College of the American West (UWC-USA).

Now the three bright young students will follow in his footsteps.

Karen Moffat, deputy director of the British School of Bahrain (BSB) and a member of UWC national committee of Bahrain, said: "We were very pleased with the quality and range of students who applied for these coveted places because it allowed us to choose three outstanding students who will be excellent ambassadors for Bahrain.

"They are confident teenagers who respect people around them. We believe that they have the qualities and the potential to thrive in the UWC community and contribute a great deal to the life of the colleges, as well as benefiting from being there.

"From past experience, I know that the UWC experience is a life-changing experience for the young people lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend. Being in a very demanding and intensive residential programme with other young people from different cultures and traditions provides for accelerated personal and academic development that will have a lasting beneficial effect on their future prospects."

Arsal, an AS level student at Al Noor International School, has been offered a full scholarship worth BD25,636. He is heading for Lester B Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Vancouver Island, Canada.

He impressed the judges - Mrs Moffat, Karina Zaidan, UWC alumnus and member of the Eqypt UWC Selection Committee and Raqaya Aamer, an English teacher at the BSB - with his academic achievements which included four GCSE A stars and three As, along with his integrity, positive attitude and down-to-earth modesty.

Arsal, a keen footballer and Manchester United fanatic who has lived in Bahrain for 10 years, is thrilled with his golden opportunity. He said: "The whole idea of bringing students from all over the world based on only their potential and their academic strengths is phenomenal. It's every young man's dream to get educated in one of the best colleges and universities in the world and thanks to God, I have got the best chance of realising that dream.

"Also, UWC's don't just admit students, they select them. I have been told I will be among 200 of the world's best. To interact with 199 others in a different country away from everyone-else is special. I am happy I got it and it is flattering to get selected."

Arsal's father Sohail Asghar, an electrical engineer who works for Yokogawa Middle East, and his mother Rabia say they are very proud of their son's achievement.

The family live in Mahooz with Arsal has two sisters Aima, 13, and Alina, seven.

Nabeel, Year 11 student at the British School of Bahrain, has been awarded a part scholarship of BD13, 798. He is joining the UWC of the Atlantic in Glamorgan, Wales.

An aspiring macro-economist, he wants to one day study at the London School of Economics. Nabeel, from Sehla, said that he wants to work towards preserving his country's culture and protecting its environment.

Looking forward to his UWC stint, he said: "It is going to be a life changing experience.

"While I get to mix with so many other cultures I can also introduce Bahrain's culture to them. I am also interested in learning about different countries and their people and hope to use the experiences for the benefit of Bahrain when I return."

Nabeel's parents, Mohammed Aqeel and Siti Yusof are both medical doctors at Salmaniya Medical Complex. He lives in Sehla with his brothers and sisters, Aymen, 13, Zahra, nine, Hussain, five, and Hana, two.

Jeanice, also a Year 11 student at the British School of Bahrain, will be funding her studies of around BD16,135 for two-years at the UWC-USA. She hopes to become a journalist or a filmmaker and travel the world and get an in-depth understanding of different world cultures.

Jeanice, from Sehla, is a keen guitarist who has CNN's Christiane Amanpour as her role model. She said: "UWC embraces differences and promotes cultural understanding and I was really interested in the concept of how you can get together and learn together. As I was born here and have lived here my entire life, I have got friends from Germany and Japan and India and Pakistan. I am thrilled about the idea about grasping culture authentically and genuinely.

"I am also really interested in their IB programme as it gives a taste of all subjects. Knowledge is power and I would like a bit of everything. There are so many things you can do.

"I would love to go into either journalism or into film making as a director.

" I love drama and I think UWC will offer me the opportunity to be anything I want. I am really looking forward to their theatre programme. Their facilities are amazing."

Jeanice's father Raul is an IT projects manager with Citibank and her mum Chuchi is a housewife. Her brothers Gershom, 14, and Paul, 11, are both BSB students.

Email selection.bh@nc.uwc.org or visit www.bh.uwc.org for more information.