Asylum seeker who fled for her life celebrates GCSE achievment (From Hillingdon Times)

Asylum seeker who fled for her life celebrates GCSE achievment

3:38pm Friday 25th August 2006 in News

A GIRL who fled to England alone at the age of 16 in fear of her life is celebrating her GCSE results after studying at Uxbridge College.

Selamawit Tesfamariam, now 19, was forced to leave Eritrea after her father was jailed for his political views, terrified the same might happen to her.

Selamawit, of New Road, Harlington, who has also been caring for her two-year-old son, Abel, during her studies, won grade As in maths and chemistry, and Bs in English, biology and Physics.

She said: "My father was put in prison and I was afraid the same thing might happen to me.

"I don't know what has happened to him, I cannot contact him; I blank out that part in my mind.

"I am so happy with my results - I can't believe it.

"I did try to work hard. At least I have not let my son down."

She hopes to become a doctor and will study AS-levels at the college in September.

Dr Darrell De Souza, director of 14-19 strategy at Uxbridge College, said: "Selamawit is an amazing young woman who is an inspiration to all of us.

"We are very much looking forward to teaching her here in the new term."

Ka On Choi, known to his friends as Eric, earned good grades despite having to use an English/Chinese dictionary to help him translate during exams.

Eric, of Yeading Lane, Yeading, who has been in the UK for one year, got A*s in Chinese and Maths, Bs in biology and media studies, and a C in English.

He was one of several students who are allowed to use a translation dictionary, which is checked by staff before exams at sat, because English is not their first language.