A Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies student from Solihull College & University Centre is gearing up for university, despite the many medical challenges which have been put in her way.
Sumayyah Gaibee aspires to be an architectural engineer. And despite many setbacks, is well on her way to achieving her goal.
Sumayyah has epilepsy and as a result was forced to leave mainstream school in Year 7. She comments: “I had between fifty and one hundred seizures per day at the time, and I was never well enough to go to school on a regular basis. I used a wheelchair to protect myself from injuries when I returned in Year 9, but repeated hospitalizations continued to interfere with my schooling. My GCSEs were significantly impacted by these difficulties.”
Despite this, Sumayyah remained committed to pursuing her studies and enrolled in the special needs 6th form at her school, where she studied life skills and short courses. She also retook and passed her Maths GCSE.
Sumayyah was then accepted onto the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction & the Built Environment at the College’s Blossomfield Campus. She was so determined to succeed, she pushed herself to walk again, retook and passed GCSE English and started to teach herself A-Level Maths, despite having to take a year out due to a new medical condition.
Sumayyah says she is making it all count: “Now that I’ve returned, I’m fully focused on making this year count. I’m putting a lot of effort into getting distinctions in my BTEC and hoping for a high A-Level Maths grade. I’ve learned perseverance, resilience, the importance of staying humbled, and the value of adjusting to life’s obstacles because of these experiences.”
Sumayyah also credits her parents for their help along the way. “The love of my parents is the greatest love in the world. They provided me with care that no one else could. They were my pillar of support through every hardship, particularly when I was in and out of the hospital. My mother, especially, has been my anchor, always there with unconditional love and strength. Every step I take, every bit of success I achieve, is because of them.”
Sumayyah is now applying to universities to study architectural engineering. Head of school for Construction & the Built Environment, Mandy Bahra, comments: “Sumayyah is an amazing student, who has shown commitment to her studies despite many health-related challenges. Her tenacity for education and to progress in her chosen career is an inspiration to us all.”
