Per aspera ad astra (Latin proverb)
The road to the stars is thorny.
I often like to quote proverbs, including the above one, which contains a lot of wisdom.
The road to the stars is thorny and not always strewn with roses, but it is not impossible if the desire to succeed is strong enough.
Every day we read about successful Bosnians and Herzegovinians all over the world, and today I want to share with you the success of a young girl named Sumaya Felić who lives here in Great Britain.
Sumaya proved that with a strong will, order and discipline, great success can be achieved in the field of education, and through her hard work she secured a place at one of the most famous universities in the world. It is also the oldest university in the Anglophone world.
Getting a place at Oxford is the dream of many, and Sumaya has achieved incredible success.
The month of August is the month of results preparing for university entrance, and Sumaya achieved the highest grades in mathematics, higher mathematics and physics at Woodhouse College, thus fulfilling all the requirements for admission to the mathematics program at Oxford.
By the way, Oxford University has a great reputation in the world and occupies a leading position on the list of the world’s best universities. Prospective students undergo rigorous tests and interviews, in which they must demonstrate a high level of knowledge, intelligence, and willingness to solve mathematical problems.
For those who want to know more about the admission process, it is important to note that Sumaya had to pass a written test in October called the MAT (Mathematical Admissions Test), and then oral interviews in December last year, where students are asked to answer questions. for math problems with the professor and thus demonstrate their readiness and intelligence. In January of this year, Sumaya received an offer from Oxford University on the condition that she achieve 2A* And 1A, which is the highest grade for entry to Oxford University.
The results Sumaya received are just another confirmation of her long-term hard work to achieve the best.
On the day of A-level results Sumaya is on Instagram profiles of Woodhouse Collegians stated the following,
“A dream came true, proof that hard work always pays off. I am very grateful to everyone who supported me on this journey.”
Despite the heavy responsibilities of full-time education in the British system, Sumaya never forgot her Bosnian-Herzegovinian roots. In addition to full-time education, she found time to regularly attend supplementary education in Bosnian and Slovenian.
By the way, her mother Ludmila grew up in Slovenia, so Sumaya was attracted to learning this language.
Sumaya is my former student whom I taught at the BiH Supplementary School in London. I met her as a modest girl who came to our school more than a decade ago together with her brother Alem and Nana Rubijo, who was always very helpful. It is Sumaya. She had a great desire to learn, and not only in the classroom. She showed exceptional will and contributed to extracurricular school activities such as school performances, the BiH Supplementary Schools’ Gatherings in the UK, and the commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide.
The success of each of our students makes me happy as if they were my own children, and I believe that many of you share my opinion. The success of our children is very important for the successful promotion of our homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout the world, and I think that Sumaya can be a role model and motivation for many young people to find their way “to the stars”.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sumaya and her family on their exceptional success, and wish her good health, happiness and success in her future education and future.
I think that our entire BiH community, not only in London, but also in the UK and the entire world, can be proud of her.
Sumaya, congratulations! Deserved success! Walk proudly!
Text: Semira Jakupović
Photo: Sumaya Felic
