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Serin: You have got many achievements in extra curricular activities as well. Can you name a few?

Shaziya: I am a great fan of extempore speeches. So I have taken part in quite a few competitions in this genre. The EEG, the Silverswift, The United Nations Model Conference are a few of them . In addition to these, I also take part in a lot of quizzes. In addition to the interhouse quizzes at school I also take part in the Blockbusters, the Brainiac (creative festival) and several others

Serin: What were your expectations for yourself?

Shaziya:    In the CBSE boards I just wanted to ensure that I will get   above 90 percent marks . And I did, which was a really proud moment for me.

Serin:    As you know, there are many others out there, who are going to write their exam in the year to come. Any advice for them ?

Shaziya:   I took the exam in it's right sense - its just an exam, it doesnt decide your life path! so you have to try and take it in the same way too. I know several students who did amazingly well in their 12th boards even though they didnt do so well in their 10th.
Another factor you have to consider is luck! sometimes somethings also depend on luck. So learn not to despair if things do not turn out the way you want them to . Be optimistic   and   consistent hardwork will   take you   to greater heights. Good Luck to   all.

Shaziya Kalam is a 12^th grader & Head girl of Our Own English High School, Dubai. She is an active participant of all co-curricular activities in school and even in many other organizations. But the best of it all came in 2008 May, when she topped the 10^th grade CBSE board exams, not only in her school but in the whole UAE, securing an amazing score of 96.2%.

Over the years, Shaziya has excelled in various fields, which made her a recipient of the prestigious Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Award 2008. ( which is an award instituted by GEMS Group, to recognise and appreciate the most outstanding girl from each school for academic excellence, and overall contributions to the school, community and environment.)

Shaziya was my sister Merin's classmate and is a good friend of mine. When
I called her and told about ‘Ninavu’ and my mission, she jokingly replied
that her achievement is an old story, about which all the excitement had already died down as it was About an year back and her tenure of the crown was over. I had to remind her that her reign is not yet over as she still has two more months to her crown as a topper of UAE, ie till the announcement of this year’s results. Moreover for her friends like us, she is always a winner. Her humble and courteous nature had always attracted those around her.

Two days later , I called her to get the location of her house and time to have a chat with her. She said usually she will be busy during weekends with tuitions and other personal and family engagements. So I fixed a time to meet her one weekday evening immediately after her arrival from school. I set everything my file, papers, pen , camera etc. ready and arranged my transport for the day.
We - (myself and my personal driver ( Dad) set off, following the directions, given by her. As we reached Nadd Al Hamr area, I had to call Shaziya again to identify her house, from many of the more or less similar villas. Then she told me that she is standing in front of her house. I looked around to locate Shaziya, and at a distance I could see her waving at me from the Gate of her villa

We reached infront of the huge gate of her villa and parked our car. Shaziya waited till we reached the gate and greeted us wih her usual “Colgate” smile and welcomed us inside . As we went inside I saw a cream colour painted beautiful villa with a pretty garden having lots of flowers and a lush green lawn . When we entered the house I was awestruck by the interior decoration and arrangements. We were lead to a spacious and elegantly decorated Drawing room . She asked my permission for a minute to leave the room before we started of. I was observing the different paintings, wall hangings , indoor plants , flower arrangements etc. in the room, each one of them was so exquisite and better than the other.
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I started my interview by whole heartedly congratulating her for her selection as the Head girl of Our Own English High school Dubai, announced two days back, which was the latest feather on her cap. She humbly thanked me for my wishes. Then we had a talk for nearly an hour and I tried my best to utilize the time to get the answers for almost all my pre - prepared questions. A brief of my interview is as given below.

Serin: What was your schedule of studies in 10^th grade? Did you stop all your activities and concentrate only in your studies? Did you use to go for tuitions?

Shaziya: 10th grade inevitably meant that I would have to spend most of my time studying rather than taking part in all the activities. Studying hard is a part of it.
However, a balance of work and extra-curricular activities is important. I did take part in a few of them. During exams I listened to a lot of music to de-stress and spent time with family to relax.
Private Tuitions was there only for maths because that was one subject I wanted to do my best in. (Of course she did it , she scored 100% in Maths)

Serin: What was everybody’s reaction ?? ? Teachers,Classmates, Friends, Parents, Siblings etc. upon declaration of your result?
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Shaziya: I was swamped with phone calls from early morning after the results were announced. My parents and my brother (Shaziya is having one younger brother Sajjad, a 10th grader) were very happy and really proud and so was I. My dad Mr. Firosh Kalam told to Khaleej Times reporter that “We never expected it and we are extremely happy that she has scored such high marks”.
My teachers all came to know of my results before me itself. After my rehearsal exam everyone in the school expected me itself as the school topper, but what shocked every one was the high mark. No one had expected such a high score as 96.2% and to become UAE topper. My teachers and classmates were bubbling with excitement but most happiest were my Grandparents. They called me within minutes from India after the results were announced. (Shaziya’s family is from Kerala)

Serin: Did your parents use to help you or   follow you up in studies ?

Shaziya:   My parents have always left me on my own in the case of studies. They believe that pressuring a child to study is not an effective method. However, my mom always ensured that I never neglected my studies. She added the fact that her parents never pressurized her made the going even easier.

Serin: What are your favourite subjects?

Shaziya:   Mathematics was definitely one of them and Biology was another. (she scored 100 for Maths and 99 for Malayalam)

Serin:    What is your ambition in life? Why   did you choose   that?

Shaziya:    I   want to be a doctor. Usually when you tell some one that you will be choosing medicine as a career, they think that its because you are just following the society norms - that if you study well, you become a doctor.   But for me, this choice   medicine has a special importance. Mostly because biology has been one of my favourite subjects. And another is that I have always been fascinated by the opportunities in medical profession, to   serve   mankind and thereby the respect that a   doctor   receives .

Serin:      You father is a businessman, how come you choose differently?

Shaziya: (She smiled) Yes, my dad is a businessman. But my mom is a graduate in science. I guess I take after her, while my brother seems to have taken after my Dad.

Dubai: Even 0.1 makes a lot of difference in the Board results said the Indian Central Board UAE topper on Thursday.
Shaziya Kalam, 16, a pupil of the Our Own Indian High School in Dubai was overwhelmed with her success. “I am absolutely delighted to have been able to score 96.2 per cent,” she told Gulf News. Shaziya leads by .2 per cent beating two other pupils who scored 96 per cent from two different schools in Abu Dhabi. Earlier this month she was awarded the Shaikha Fatima award.

“I am glad to have made my parents, friends and teachers proud. My family is my biggest strength, especially my younger brother Sajjad who has always been very supportive in whatever I did. Being a GEMS Group school (Global Education Management Systems) topper as well I am expected to receive a scholarship which is 50 per cent of the monthly fee,” said Shaziya who wants to pursue medicine and specialize in Ophthalmology. “This is because my brother suffers from a congenital eye defect. It’s a big issue for me and I want to try an do something in the field of Ophthalmology so that I can get better understanding on his suffering,’ she said.
She plans to pursue her higher studies in India after finishing her Grade 12 in the UAE. “I am an Indian and am big fan of my country.”

Serin: What are your hobbies?

Shaziya: (She thought for a while ) One thing I have been passionate about is art. Even though I do not take part in any of the art competitions, I mainly prefer to make sketches during my free time. Reading is other.

Serin: You have mentioned that Reading is one of your hobbies. What kind of books you like to read ? Any Favourites?

Shaziya: Well, frankly speaking my choice is not limited to any particular type of books, I read all. I like books of Petricia Cornwell, Robin Cook, Chethan Sharma etc. Then I read the most popular series of Harry Potter books and even I have the copy of all these books. I have also read a few classics like Pride and Prejudice . Jane Austen is my all time favourite author. I usually prefer thrillers over girly books.

Serin: Do you have any role models, any person or incident ? What has inspired you mainly in this acheivement?

Shaziya: As a role model, I would definitely say that Dad has had a great influence on me. He was my biggest strength and has always been supportive in whatever I did.
I was always inspired by good books.
More than incident or person or anything like that, I always wanted to make my family proud of me! and I know that education means a lot to them! When I had clinched the first position it was a wonderful moment for me and my family. I was really excited and feels great

Before leaving I did not forget to remind her about a party for her selection as Head Girl and she said she is looking forward to throw a party , during vacation when it is convenient to all.

She also congratulated CETA members for taking this initiative in providing their kids a platform for bringing out their talents and wished Good Luck to this kids edition of CETA Ninavu.