As King Abdulaziz University celebrated its 55th graduation ceremony, honoring
24,000 male and female graduates, inspiring stories of success emerged as beacons
of hope, illuminating paths shaped by perseverance and determination. Among those
stories is that of Layan Marwan Nazer, a fashion design graduate whose hearing
impairment never stood in the way of her creativity and accomplishments. Driven by
passion, ambition, and a spirit of competition, she has proven her abilities and talents
across a range of fields and platforms.

Layan Nazer, a deaf graduate from the Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, said:
“My hearing impairment was never the end of the road; rather, it was the beginning of
a different story. I started by learning sign language, through which I expressed my
passion and determination, and I achieved many accomplishments that I am proud of
before graduating from King Abdulaziz University with honors.”

She added: “I won first place nationally at Career Day, third place among universities
in the long jump, and first place in the 2026 bowling championship. I faced
challenges and learned that barriers can be overcome. I firmly believe that success is
not a destination, but a way of life.”

Layan also expressed her gratitude to her family for the support, care, and
encouragement they provided in meeting her needs, strengthening her education,
and helping her develop her abilities. She also thanked her professors for
understanding the needs of students from all backgrounds and for creating a learning
environment and activities that support their education and progress.

She said she hopes to contribute, alongside others of her generation, to the
Kingdom’s continued development and progress, and to see persons with disabilities
recognized as true partners in shaping the future. She added that Saudi Vision 2030,
through its ambitious plans and programs, has become a key enabler of inclusion
and empowerment for persons with disabilities by expanding opportunities in
education, sports, and advanced technical and scientific fields.

Another inspiring story is that of Ruqayyah Saeed Banafaa, a graduate in her sixties
from the Faculty of Economics and Administration, where she majored in Public

Administration. She left school after intermediate education and discontinued her
studies after getting married and starting a family.

Later, she resumed her educational journey alongside her daughter in secondary
school, graduated with a perfect GPA, and secured a place at university. Her
university journey marked the beginning of a new and demanding chapter, as the
long commute required her to wake up early each day and spend around three hours
traveling to and from campus, until she ultimately fulfilled her dream of earning a
bachelor’s degree.