Diana Farah

DUBAI: Habiba Yasser Qudaih, a Japanese-Palestinian student, has been named among the UAE’s top 10 achievers in the general education track, an honor that reflects both her multicultural upbringing and unyielding determination.

Raised in Fukuoka, Japan, to Palestinian parents, Qudaih spent her early years immersed in Japanese culture and education, which she credits for instilling discipline, organization and a deep approach to learning, skills she carried with her when her family moved to Jordan, and later to the UAE.

“When I moved to Jordan, my Arabic wasn’t good at first,” she told Arab News Japan. “It was a big challenge adjusting to a new country, language and way of studying. But looking back, I see it was all worth it. I wouldn’t be here without those experiences.”

Qudaih’s unique upbringing gave her insights into two distinct educational cultures. “In the UAE, the system is very competitive, which motivates you to do better,” she explained. “But in Japan, school teaches you teamwork and discipline. Both are important in different ways.”

Despite leaving Japan eight years ago, Qudaih remains deeply connected to the country where she was born. “I miss everything, the nature, the food, the sweets and the people,” she said, adding that she keeps in touch with friends in Japan and hopes to visit soon.

Growing up Palestinian in Japan, she recalls only positive memories: “I was always different from everyone else, but I never faced discrimination. People loved that I came from a different background. It made me feel special, and I’m proud of it.”

Qudaih has set her sights on studying clinical psychology, inspired by a fascination with how the human mind works.

“It first started with watching movies about psychologists,” she said. “Then I realized psychology is connected to everything, every workplace needs it, and it’s key to understanding people and building healthier societies.”

She hopes to use her unique background to bridge gaps in mental health awareness.

“I’d love to help improve mental health in both the Arab world and Japan,” she said. “I hope to be a connection between both cultures.”

To peers hoping to follow in her footsteps, Qudaih offered simple but powerful advice: “Nothing is impossible. Stay consistent, don’t pressure yourself too much and always enjoy the moment—because school years only happen once in a lifetime.”

Looking back, she said she wishes she could have stressed less during high school: “I’d tell my past self it’s going to be okay. Take a deep breath.”

Qudaih was honored at a ceremony where the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met the top high school graduates in the UAE for the 2024-2025 academic year.

According to the UAE’s Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, Sheikh Abdullah said: “I was pleased to meet the top-performing high school students from across the country, who have earned this recognition and appreciation for their outstanding performance.”

“We express our sincere gratitude to the UAE’s leadership strategic vision, which places education at the heart of its national priorities and continuously promotes excellence among the current and future generations. Our warmest congratulations go to all high school graduates who have completed a significant chapter in their academic path and are now about to begin a new phase that calls for even greater commitment,” he added.

With her sights set on a future in psychology, Qudaih is determined to make a difference and to continue blending the best of her Japanese and Palestinian heritage.