Fourteen Years of Standards That Stuck

Saarah Karim

Oud Metha FS2 - Year 6 | College Year 7 - Year 13 | Head Girl 2022

From FS2 at Oud Metha to Head Girl at College, Saarah Karim spent fourteen years in the DESS family. She left with hundreds of memories and a set of standards that continued to sustain her as she navigated the early stages of a career in medicine at Oxford University.

The Culture That Shaped Her

"We were all aware of the DESS culture and its focus on manners and respect as we made our way through the school, but in those early days of discovery it was easy to underestimate the power it had to make everyone believe that they could succeed at whatever they set their heart on. Everything was tailored towards making really good young adults."

It's one thing to teach subjects. It's another thing entirely to build an environment where students genuinely believe they're capable of more than they thought possible.

Saarah experienced both. And years later, studying medicine at Oxford, she saw exactly how much those foundations mattered.

Sport, Silver, and Max Lohe

Saarah's achievement-packed sporting life at College got off to a promising early start. She credits the extra coaching she received from Director of Sport Max Lohe for helping her win silver in the BSME games.

But sport wasn't everything. She worked just as hard in the classroom and through the school community. Her endeavours and personality made her an obvious choice for Head Girl; a role that came with responsibility, visibility, and the chance to shape the culture she'd benefited from for so many years.

The Nostalgic Trip Before Oxford

Just before leaving Dubai for Oxford in 2022, Saarah returned to DESS for one last trip down memory lane.

She came back with her mum, Aisha. She reunited with former Year 2 teacher Samantha Muir, Year 3 teacher Mr Frost, and PE Teacher Mr Lohe. She walked the campus, relived the sports days, the school plays, the school trips; all the moments that had built up over fourteen years into something bigger than any single memory.

She also met with the current Head Boy and Head Girl to share her most valuable lessons and advice. The baton passed. The cycle continued.

What She Took With Her

Saarah left DESS with more than a place at Oxford to study medicine. She left with standards. The kind that don't show up on transcripts but shape how you approach everything that comes next.

Manners. Respect. The belief that you can succeed at whatever you set your heart on. The understanding that being a good young adult matters just as much as being a good student.

Fourteen years is a long time to spend anywhere. But when you leave with so much, it's time well spent.