Recognising Excellence Award Winners - Omar Darwish
Last month, the College proudly hosted the Recognising Excellence Awards at the Granton Campus. A memorable night which saw more than a hundred students cross the stage to pick up awards acknowledging their hard work and dedication, we’re continuing to highlight all of their success by featuring interviews with just some of the award winners.
Next in the series is 20-year-old Omar Darwish, who was named Student of the Year for College based ESOL. He’s telling us how it felt to scoop the prize, and how he’s enjoyed his time at Edinburgh College after moving to Scotland from Syria:
Hi Omar! What did it mean to you to win this award?
“I feel very happy to be chosen and recognised this way. It makes me feel proud of all the hard work I put into my studies.”
How did you wind up studying at Edinburgh College in the first place?
“I chose the College because it presented so many opportunities. I wanted to go somewhere I could meet new people, gain new experiences, and most importantly improve my skills. I came straight from high school to the College.”
What have you enjoyed the most about your time here?
“I’ve loved being able to learn new things every single day. My high school experience was limited, but at Edinburgh College I’ve learned more, improved my confidence and developed entirely new skills.”
Is there anything you’d like to say to your lecturers?
“I would like to say thank you, for all of your hard work and support. The lecturers always take time to help us, explain our work clearly, and encourage us to try and do the best we can. I really appreciate it.”
Finally, what’s next for you? Any plans for the future?
“I hope to continue my studies at the College, before moving on to Architecture, Art and Design. I would like to complete my qualifications and continue to university. I would like to become a professional architect, designing buildings that will help people and improve our society.”