Peace be upon you,

I am Saeb Najeh Mahmoud Alaweeh, a student from Jenin, Palestine. I am currently in my second year at the Arab American University and have been a dedicated and hardworking student, maintaining a GPA of 3.59 at the time of this message. Despite the difficult circumstances we face—whether economic hardships or security challenges—I strive to achieve a high GPA for two main reasons:

To excel in my academic journey.
To increase my chances of receiving a scholarship, as a strong GPA plays a crucial role in securing financial support.

When I completed my Tawjihi (high school), I earned a 92.3% in the scientific stream, praise be to God. Like any student, I deserved at least three weeks of rest after a challenging year. However, just two days after my exams, I immediately started working to save money for university, which has always been my dream. I worked for two and a half months, but due to work-related issues, I had to leave my job. I then worked another job for only a week before facing similar challenges that forced me to quit.

Thankfully, I was able to enroll in university using the money I had saved. However, for my second semester and summer semester, I had to register on an installment plan as I did not have enough funds to pay the full tuition. I am currently in debt of 3,900 shekels (approximately $1,100 USD) and hope to continue my education by registering on an installment basis for the upcoming semester, God willing.

I am 19 years old and have personally funded my university education. My father is unable to support me financially due to his chronic health conditions, including persistent headaches, difficulty concentrating, and bone spurs, which cause severe leg pain and prevent him from working. There are medical documents proving his condition.

After completing my first year, I wanted to find a job, but due to the ongoing Israeli military incursions in Jenin, economic hardships, and movement restrictions, employment opportunities were scarce. Instead, I registered for summer courses on an installment plan to ensure I stayed engaged in both work and study. During this semester, I took three courses (7 credit hours) and successfully earned the highest grade (A) in all of them.

As a computer engineering student, having access to a laptop or computer is essential. Unfortunately, I do not own one, which has significantly hindered my ability to practice and apply what I learn. Despite this, I took the initiative to start learning advanced programming languages like HTML and CSS—which are typically covered in the third year—to gain a head start in my field. However, these languages require a laptop for practical application, and my lack of resources has slowed my progress. My dream is to build and design websites, but I am struggling due to financial limitations.

I am determined to succeed and become a success story that inspires others. However, my biggest obstacle is my financial situation. At my university, the installment payment service opens only a week before classes begin, often leading to delays and disputes over the accepted installment percentage, which in turn causes strikes and disruptions. By the time these issues are resolved, many courses are already fully booked, making registration even more difficult. Despite this, I would rather register late than not register at all.

I don’t want to take up too much of your time, but I sincerely thank you for supporting students facing financial hardships. Your help makes a real difference in our lives. If I succeed, I promise to give back and support students in need, just as you do.

May God bless you and reward you abundantly.

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Saeb Najeh Mahmoud Alawneh | Jenin, Palestine

By Arab Student Aid International

Saeb Najeh Mahmoud Alawneh | Jenin, Palestine

Major: Computer Systems Engineering