By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A former Narre Warren South P-12 student has overcome great odds to record a stunning 99.65 ATAR score.
Yasir Sultani, who has just enrolled in an Engineering-Commerce double-degree at Monash University, is an Afghan-born Hazara refugee who has had an interrupted education due to growing up in life-threatening circumstances.
Yasir said he always considered himself a good student, completing Year 10 as he and his family took refuge in Pakistan.
But the situation became too unsafe for him and others of the persecuted Hazara people to go to school, he said.
In the meantime he played badminton and practised drawing – the latter was a way to “forget about all the horrible things happening around me”.
“Here in Australia, reading books replaced drawing as an escape from reality,” he said.
“Any money I got I would spend it on a book.”
Yasir said he arrived in Australia with “all the hope in the world” but the reality was harder than expected.
First was the gnawing worry for loved ones left behind as a “slew of horrible news” poured in from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He studied mainly at recess and lunchtime because his living arrangements weren’t suitable for study.
And there were also tight financial constraints.
“I tried for jobs but got rejected too many times. As a result, I had to ask the school for (financial help).”
Thankfully, Narre Warren South P-12 pitched in to help Yasir with uniforms and books.
This support as well as help from the Centre for Multicultural Youth encouraged Yasir to put in a huge effort towards the end of Year 12, he said.
He had hoped for a 95 ATAR score to get a scholarship but thought he had underachieved in his exams.
“On seeing the result I was shocked. I thought I was still dreaming and that the alarm is gonna go off soon.
“I wanted to scream but refrained as most of the other people in the house were asleep.”
Yasir opted for the double-degree because he was fascinated by the science behind “amazing”-looking buildings but also wanted to make “educated decisions” on his future wealth.
“I want to ensure that my children, if I choose to have them, will not go through the same hardship.
“And that they, unlike me, will be able to do whatever field that they desire without fear of lacking support.”
