Nasif: A Level Success Leads to University College London

Nasif has Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy (MNGIE). This presents in Nasif as extreme pain, fatigue and gastrointestinal problems, which resulted in him having a liver transplant. Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice started supporting Nasif in 2022 and helped him navigate his way through education to another impressive academic result. 

Nasif talks about the aspects of learning he enjoys and says: "I like learning the subjects, but when it comes to doing independent work, I do have to focus on it a lot more and put my mind to it." His stellar results show a determination and self-discipline to overcome any obstacle, Nasif explains where his drive comes from: "I'm not able to start working a 9-5 job like a usual person. So, because I can't do that, the only option was to work hard in my studies."

Nasif has experienced the benefits of academic studies and believes it should be available for everyone, he says: 

"Everyone deserves a chance to study further if they want to." 

A child's right to an education is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It mandates that every child have access to free, quality primary education and that secondary and higher education be available to all but so often children and young people with life-limited or life-threatening conditions get left behind. For these students, school can offer more than just learning; it can provide a positive focus and a sense of normalcy, Nasif adds: "Because of my illness, I’ve realised that my options have become really limited. So, I’ve put all my energy, all my focus, into my intelligence and discipline."

Nasif goes on to describe a point in his life when his motivation stalled, he says: "I was off school in year 11 for about a year and during that time I wasn't really studying at all and I felt like I was just sitting on the sofa looking at a wall all day. Then I was given the option to do my GCSEs or take a year out and I decided to just do my exams. I thought I might as well get it over with, but once I started revising, I felt like it took my mind off like all my troubles and was a pretty good outlet to get my mind off things."

During this time Nasif’s school was not supporting him in his aspiration to complete his GCSEs. He says: "My teachers told me I wasn’t required to do homework, and I could just relax in class. So, everything I’ve achieved has been self-discipline." Nasif admits that there was also a small element of rebellion and says: "I’ve had people call my potential ‘wasted’ and also that I should go to Wales and look at sheep to help me psychologically. This riled me up and made me fed up with people telling me what to do, so I carried on with my studies out of spite."

Nasif acknowledges that studying isn’t the answer for everyone and says: "If you don't do well in your studies, there are other options, it’s not the end of the world. I feel like a lot of people my age, they become disheartened when they don't really know what to do with their lives. In reality, most people don't realise how many options they have until those options are taken away. When lots of options were taken away from me that’s when I realised that studying was pretty much all I had."

Nasif’s parents are understandably very proud of his achievements, he says: 

"My family are really proud that I'm the first person in my family to go to university and considering what I've had to deal with for years, I'm proud too."

Nasif says that Noah’s Ark have been really supportive, especially his Family Link Worker, Jo, who has fought and advocated for Nasif to receive the education he is entitled to, he says: "She’s been a really big help, school thought I should just give up on my GCSEs but Jo talked them round."

Nasif is looking forward to the next chapter in his academic life and to meeting lots of new and exciting people – that he can also prove wrong. We wish Nasif every success.

Thank you to Nasif for kindly allowing us to share his story.