KAUST Through the Lens of TKS Students

Over the past few weeks, Grade 8 students at The KAUST School have been diving into the world of journalism. They’ve explored different styles of writing and even set up their own media agencies to report on stories happening all around the KAUST community. From school sports and campus gardeners to cutting-edge science, coral restoration, and local start-ups — their coverage has been wide-ranging and full of energy.

Through interviews and hands-on research, these young journalists have shown real curiosity, creativity, and professionalism. As part of a fun competition, eight top articles have been chosen by TKS to appear in The LENS over the next month as part of the ‘KAUST through the lens of TKS students’. As a note, these articles reflect the students’ creative work as part of a school project and have been selected based on their creative writing skills. We hope you’ll enjoy reading their work and help us celebrate what they’ve accomplished!

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KAUST: Home Is Where the Community Is 

– By Kareemah Raji, Grade 8, The KAUST School

When you think about the earnest place you could be, your haven and sanctuary with the people you want to see, what comes to mind? Is it an unforgettable memory with special people on the special days of your life, is it learning to let go and being supported in the midst of hardship, is it community? From the moment people step into KAUST, they find a home. Not just literally because housing is provided, but because the community at KAUST is made for people to lean on and be supported, plus supportive, forging a bond that builds us up together.

Some might say that KAUST isn’t different from anywhere else, because it is a place where you find people living, working, and surviving, without any major differences, and that means that the community would still be the same as any other. Or you might hear from people who feel that having a community isn’t necessary and belittle the significance of community because their stance is that it is better to live your life alone as an independent body, so that you can never be let down.

The facts are that KAUST, being the top research university in the Arab world, has a community exceeding any other place on earth, and many who have experienced it view it as a home with “one big happy family” living within it. That is the KAUST community: A fully encompassing place to harbour lifestyles that provide, support, and give an inviting and inclusive community with something to cater to everyone, and a place with memories that are forever imprinted in your life– a wonderful experience that you will never forget. It is the greatest homage to “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Here at KAUST, the community is massive. And the different and diverse people who live here enjoy different lifestyles that are available and supported, which allows the community to always give back and grow together. The opportunities present, like the well-being programs and academic or work-related workshops, or the different services offered, such as the Al-Marsa restaurant and home services, result in day-to-day learning experiences and interactions that foster connections within the community. These influences are a part of the lifestyles people here have, and the way they choose to use their opportunities to their advantage to develop themselves and the community around them.

“So, in general, I think it is a very welcoming community that is diverse … where you will find more than 75 nationalities living and working in the same enclosure. But that is what KAUST is like– a closed village– and if it wasn’t welcoming, you would not be likely to find that many nationalities on KAUST.” This was the statement of one community member who works at KAUST and has been here for over 10 years. His words and his actions are a true testament to the type of community we have at KAUST, because as he said, “I don’t think that you would get that anywhere else in the world to be honest.” Events like the Parade of Nations, where each of the nationalities in KAUST has a chance to be honoured, only add to the inclusive and joyful atmosphere. Different cultural and religious celebrations that are recognized and celebrated here, like Ramadan or Chinese New Year, and programs plus activities that are meant to improve and fill with happiness the lives of Kaustians, all contribute to the inviting atmosphere that keeps this community the way it is.

“About the community itself, I’d say welcoming, diverse, multicultural, and integrated, and for KAUST in general, I’d say advancement and innovation.” Said Amatullah Raji, a 10th grader here at KAUST. The people living in KAUST have a common theme for what life at KAUST is like, serene, peaceful, welcoming, diverse, integrated, multicultural, vibrant, clean, but the main thing they express is that living in this place has been a wonderful experience for them because of the memories they share with other here, and it is something they will treasure with them forever wherever they go.

Living at KAUST means living life to its fullest, with special people around you who will be there for the rest of your life. In my little village, I can traverse, learn, work, and grow knowing that people will be there to support me every step of the way, and the lifestyle I build here will guide me as the lens I use for looking at the rest of the world and the need for community with it. KAUST sets the example for organizations globally to give back to the world we all come from, and improve life for those with us together.

King Abdullah, the founder of KAUST, once said, “KAUST shall be a beacon for peace, hope, and reconciliation, and shall serve the people of the Kingdom and the world.” He envisioned before KAUST came to life the amazing place KAUST would be, the role model it would become for other places around the globe, and the positive + powerful impact it would provide to people’s lives. So what are you waiting for? If you want a home, find your community. And what better place than KAUST, where you become a part of a special family that builds a home in your heart.