A medical student who was name checked by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a speech yesterday says it was "a complete, complete surprise" and she felt so grateful and honoured, adding that her parents were over the moon.
Suaad Alshleh said she did not know about it until she received a phone call and email from the Royal College of Surgeons, where she studies medicine.
Suaad came to Ireland with her mother at the age of 14, seeking refuge from the war in Syria. Her father joined them shortly after.
She spent her first year here living in Direct Provision with her mother.
Last year while Suaad was a first year student at the RCSI, she was awarded the Professor William C Campbell bursary.
Student Suaad Alshleh— from Syria to the Royal College of Surgeons via direct provision - her story highlighted by @vonderleyen more on @rtenews pic.twitter.com/0AvWAoiIju
— Conor Hunt (@conorfhunt) September 17, 2020
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Suaad said she does not know how Ms von der Leyden discovered her story.
The European Commission President mentioned Suaad by name while speaking of the need to harness the skills of refugees during her State of the European Union address.
"I think of Suaad, the teenage Syrian refugee who arrived in Europe dreaming of being a medical doctor," she said.
"Within three years she was awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland."
Suaad said that the time she spent in Direct Provision was the hardest time in her life, but she came out of it in the most positive way that someone could.
She said it was a tremendous period of change - she was away from her father and spent a year living with her mum in one room while sitting her Junior Cert exams.
She said she is not sure when the seed was planted, but for as long as she can remember she wanted to be a doctor.
Suaad described her first year in RCSI as "one hell of a year".
She said things are going "brilliantly" now, and she cannot wait to see what happens over the next four years.
