She made her homeland, and family proud

An ordinary young Syrian adolescent sharing country’s concerns with her more mature compatriots at such an early age. She thinks that exceeding in her studies and being a scientific Olympiad nominee in the Olympiad international competitions will be her own way in raising her country cause in international forums and showing to the world that Syria is not a country where arms have the only dominance but a country full of beautiful minds and thoughts. She is Taima Al-Hassanieh, the bronze medal titular for the chemistry national Olympiad competitions 2014, being now part of the Chemistry national team.

Today it is a honor as a mother as well as a journalist to make my first interview with my own daughter, after her honoring success in holding the 3rd place in chemistry national Olympiad qualifications. It is difficult to be objective when your are involved especially as a journalist, but should we always be.

When first asking her about the efforts she has made to reach that place she quickly responded: “ Are you really asking me about that?” meaning that I am the most qualified person to take about her sweats and what she has exerted beginning from her unstoppable determination to be one of the premium, to her hard work in studying chemistry international Olympiad material from the all over the world. She then added: “Of course daddy has a hand in my nomination, since he had furnished me with the right stuff to study, he was like a personal trainer, that was a plus point in my favor.” Like father, like daughter since her father is a Chemistry PhD. Titular.

Before the 3 days tour of Syrian Scientific Olympiad qualifications at Sheraton Hotel that kicked off on Wednesday Jan 15, 2014; with the participation of 276 contestants to select the teams to represent Syria to the international Olympiads due to be held next summer. Taima was anticipating the competition beginning, as she was equally lagging behind hoping to have more time to complete her study. “ I was very nervous, and haven’t slept for 2 days. It is the first time for me to be away from my family, I was at the same time jumpy and happy to be engaged in such event.” Her birthday was three days away, and when I asked her about birthday wishes she declared “ I want a day with 30 hours instead of 24, could you please bring me that!”

Chairman of the National Commission of the Syrian Scientific Olympiad Imad al- Azb affirmed to SANA that the scientific competitions run with two rounds one in the morning and the other in the evening, each round is 3 hours duration. Al-Azb pointed out that the top 10 students in each subject will become members in the national team, adding that they will be trained at internal and external camps to be prepared for the participation in the International mathematical Olympiad in South Africa, Physics in Kazakhstan, Chemistry in Vietnam, IT in Taiwan and Science in Indonesia.

Regarding her experience in the Syrian Scientific Olympiad qualifications at Sheraton Hotel, she said “ It was an exceptional experience, since I was in contact with opponents from all Syrian provinces, with their different backgrounds, accents, religions; yet all sharing one big goal their country wellbeing.” She fierily added “ Another activity that really made me thrilled and honored is when we all as contestant made a choreography of our flag by means of wearing black, white, red and green T-shirts, crossing the Amayyad square from the Sheraton Hotel to Damascus Opera House.”

Concerning her future plans she announced “ I wish to participate in the Chemistry International Olympiad competitions this summer in Vietnam, and to get a medal.” Here I interrupted her “ Which medal?” She swiftly declared “ The Golden one, but anyone would be great.” As for her distant goals she had very big ambitions especially first regarding her country’s future, second concerning her education; which really made me overjoyed.

To close with I asked about her finale word about the whole experience. “ Whatever was the result, I would have been satisfied. Furthermore, I encourage every young man or woman to raise their spirits and participate in the Syrian Scientific Olympiad because the experience by itself was exciting, enjoying, and valuable.”

Lama Al-Hassnieh