Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

The 140 students of Dubai International Academy, who graduated at a virtual graduation ceremony, have received significant scholarships from 61 universities, totaling up to an impressive amount of over Dhs15 million, and counting.

The school’s twelfth graduating class had impressive acceptance rates as over 88 per cent students gained admission to their first-choice university, with 90 acceptances to 20 of the World’s Top 50 QS Ranking universities. The DIA’s Class of 2020 also had 114 acceptances from 21 UK Russell Group of Universities.

Guest of Honour, Dr. Imad Hoballah, the Minister of Industry, Lebanon and a member of the DIA advisory council shared an inspiring message of hope, courage and resilience with the graduates.

“It is not always easy to know what is right or let alone do what is right but just as you have conquered these 13 years of awkward moments and self-doubt you will learn to do the right thing. You will fail, you will fall but you will pick yourself up, find a new path, forge ahead, invent and reinvent yourself; make the lives of those around you better because you can,” he said.

The online graduation ceremony was made special for students and families with a visual art online exhibition, a wonderful dance display and student videos that made it an interactive experience. The students’ success was celebrated with outstanding awards such as the CEO award, Valedictorian, International student award and many more.  This was the school’s first cohort who had undertaken the Career Related Programme.

In her address to the students, Poonam Bhojani, CEO of Innoventures Education, said, “You are entering a world very different than what we could have visualised a short while ago. We wish you all success and good luck. As you step out into the world, dare to dream, dare to stand by your dreams and work hard to achieve these dreams.”

Quoting Kahlil Gibran, Jayne Needham - Principal Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, said:  “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you…”