MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Drive Time
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Drive Time
  • Video
Subscribe
Billie Eilish unrecognisable in 'Xanny' film clip
Watch 0:32

Billie Eilish unrecognisable in 'Xanny' film clip

{headline}

{headline}

The 2020 Golden Globe Nominations Have Been Announced

The 2020 Golden Globe Nominations Have Been Announced

Princess Beatrice Cancels Her Engagement Party In The Wake Of Prince Andrew Scandal

Princess Beatrice Cancels Her Engagement Party In The Wake Of Prince Andrew Scandal

John Legend Discusses The Backlash Towards The #MeToo Movement

John Legend Discusses The Backlash Towards The #MeToo Movement

Chrissy Teigen Just Confirmed She's The Queen Of The Internet With Two Viral Shutdowns In One Day

Chrissy Teigen Just Confirmed She's The Queen Of The Internet With Two Viral Shutdowns In One Day

{headline}

{headline}

The 10 Most Memorable Moments for Women In 2019

The 10 Most Memorable Moments for Women In 2019

Christmas Gift Ideas for Lifestyle Lovers

Christmas Gift Ideas for Lifestyle Lovers

5 Filming Locations From 'The Crown' You Can Visit In Real Life

5 Filming Locations From 'The Crown' You Can Visit In Real Life

{headline}

{headline}

The Best Fashion Moments From The New 'Wonder Woman 1984' Trailer

The Best Fashion Moments From The New 'Wonder Woman 1984' Trailer

Fashion Documentaries To Add To Your Must-Watch List In 2020

Fashion Documentaries To Add To Your Must-Watch List In 2020

A Never-Before-Seen Photo Of Meghan Markle Doing Charity Work Has Surfaced

A Never-Before-Seen Photo Of Meghan Markle Doing Charity Work Has Surfaced

The Most Fashionable Holiday Displays Around The World

The Most Fashionable Holiday Displays Around The World

The Queen Wears Up To 7 Different Outfits On Christmas Day

The Queen Wears Up To 7 Different Outfits On Christmas Day

Jennifer Lopez Takes To The SNL Runway in *That* Versace Dress

Jennifer Lopez Takes To The SNL Runway in *That* Versace Dress

Lena Dunham's New TV Show Is Being Dubbed 'Euphoria' Meets 'Sex Education'

Lena Dunham's New TV Show Is Being Dubbed 'Euphoria' Meets 'Sex Education'

  1. Home
  2. News

Syrian Refugee Scores 96 ATAR And Becomes Dux Of School

He only learnt English two years ago - by marie claire
  • 13 Dec 2016
Syrian Refugee Scores 96 ATAR And Becomes Dux Of School

A Syrian refugee who fled his war-torn country has today received a 96.65 Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) just two years after learning English.

 

Saad Al-Kassab and his family fled Syria to Egypt via Lebanon before eventually seeking refuge in Australia in 2013.

 

Three years later he graduated as dux of Catholic Regional College Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west.

 

“I felt really happy. I was just overwhelmed," Saad told ABC.

SBS News on Twitter

"I'm really grateful for being given the opportunity to be able to come to Australia and study here. Despite all the difficulties, I was given a new life."

 

In 2014 his lack of English-speaking skills made it difficult to get into a school in Australia and he took a job as a gardener at a school.

 

Saad taught himself English using his father’s dictionary and watching Question Time in Federal Parliament. "The way they speak, they speak proper English. They speak slowly, so you can catch words," he said.

 

Saad has now been offered a scholarship at Monash Universty and hopes to study biomedicine or medicine.

 

Before fleeing Syria, Saad’s school had been turned into a refugee camp, and to continue his education, he and his brother Omar would have to travel through checkpoints to makeshift exam centres, reports Seven News. 

 

The brothers are now a part of Scouts Victoria, and recently appeared in a video outlining the work they did as part of the Syrian Scouts which helped provide food and aide to those affected by the war.

 

"We acted as distributors of the international aide and collected food for the displaced people in Syria," Omar said in a Scouts Victoria video.

Free MECCA MAX Gift- worth $111

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Free MECCA MAX Gift

Free MECCA MAX Gift- worth $111

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Free MECCA MAX Gift

Recommended to you

Billie Eilish unrecognisable in 'Xanny' film clip
Watch 0:32

Billie Eilish unrecognisable in 'Xanny' film clip

{headline}

{headline}

The 2020 Golden Globe Nominations Have Been Announced

The 2020 Golden Globe Nominations Have Been Announced

Princess Beatrice Cancels Her Engagement Party In The Wake Of Prince Andrew Scandal

Princess Beatrice Cancels Her Engagement Party In The Wake Of Prince Andrew Scandal

John Legend Discusses The Backlash Towards The #MeToo Movement

John Legend Discusses The Backlash Towards The #MeToo Movement

Chrissy Teigen Just Confirmed She's The Queen Of The Internet With Two Viral Shutdowns In One Day

Chrissy Teigen Just Confirmed She's The Queen Of The Internet With Two Viral Shutdowns In One Day

{headline}

{headline}

The 10 Most Memorable Moments for Women In 2019

The 10 Most Memorable Moments for Women In 2019

Christmas Gift Ideas for Lifestyle Lovers

Christmas Gift Ideas for Lifestyle Lovers

5 Filming Locations From 'The Crown' You Can Visit In Real Life

5 Filming Locations From 'The Crown' You Can Visit In Real Life

{headline}

{headline}

The Best Fashion Moments From The New 'Wonder Woman 1984' Trailer

The Best Fashion Moments From The New 'Wonder Woman 1984' Trailer

Fashion Documentaries To Add To Your Must-Watch List In 2020

Fashion Documentaries To Add To Your Must-Watch List In 2020

A Never-Before-Seen Photo Of Meghan Markle Doing Charity Work Has Surfaced

A Never-Before-Seen Photo Of Meghan Markle Doing Charity Work Has Surfaced

The Most Fashionable Holiday Displays Around The World

The Most Fashionable Holiday Displays Around The World

The Queen Wears Up To 7 Different Outfits On Christmas Day

The Queen Wears Up To 7 Different Outfits On Christmas Day

Jennifer Lopez Takes To The SNL Runway in *That* Versace Dress

Jennifer Lopez Takes To The SNL Runway in *That* Versace Dress

Lena Dunham's New TV Show Is Being Dubbed 'Euphoria' Meets 'Sex Education'

Lena Dunham's New TV Show Is Being Dubbed 'Euphoria' Meets 'Sex Education'

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
MarieClaire Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Instyle
  • Who
  • Women's Health

Pacific Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Men’s Health
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • Practical Parenting
  • 7travel
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
© 2019 Pacific Magazines
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Free MECCA MAX Gift- worth $111

Shop This Offer
Free MECCA MAX Gift