Poor eyesight was no obstacle for Sham Ammar Abdo — it became a driving force that propelled her towards her academic dream. She has become the first graduate with a visual impairment from the College of Health Sciences to earn a bachelor's degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics with honours, following a 4-year journey of perseverance and dedicated effort.
From the moment she applied to join the Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics department, questions arose about her ability to handle the practical and clinical aspects the specialisation demands. Yet those concerns quickly faded after she demonstrated exceptional resolve and a clear determination to succeed and achieve her academic and professional goals during her personal interview.
Sham's passion traces back to her earliest years of schooling, when she developed a bond with the sciences and found particular enjoyment in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. From an early age she understood that her future lay in one of the health specialisations.
As time went on, she found in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics a field that united her love of science with her desire to serve the community and help patients improve their quality of life.
Throughout her years of study she faced numerous challenges, foremost among them the clinical training and practical application requirements, alongside her constant drive to preserve her independence and rely on herself across various academic tasks. Despite all this, she managed to overcome the difficulties through strong willpower and an unshakeable belief in her own capacity to succeed.
Sham affirmed that the support she received from her family and friends was a fundamental factor in continuing her educational journey. Assistive technologies also contributed a qualitative leap to her study experience. After initial hesitation about using screen-reading software and audio technologies, her family encouraged her to make use of them, and they became an effective tool that helped her study and complete academic tasks efficiently and independently.
This was not the first achievement of her journey. She had previously distinguished herself at secondary school, graduating among the top students in the UAE's general secondary examinations and receiving recognition from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State — may God preserve him — in appreciation of her academic excellence.
Today Sham opens a new chapter in her academic journey following her graduation with honours, affirming that this success represents the beginning of another stage in which she looks forward to pursuing postgraduate studies and working in academia. She also addressed a message to people of determination and those with disabilities, urging them to hold fast to their dreams and not allow challenges to define their paths, and affirming that persistence and self-confidence are capable of turning obstacles into milestones of success and distinction.