Slough student Mahnoor Cheema, 18, has turned heads and astonished the nation by successfully siting and passing a staggering 23 A-Levels. This incredible feat puts her in the top one percent of all students across the UK. She’s accepted an offer from the University of Oxford to read medicine. Her dreams don’t stop in the classroom though as she hopes to one day be a neurosurgeon. Though she’s accomplished so many great things, Cheema insists that her path hasn’t been characterized by anxiety or over-the-top expectation.
Cheema’s academic journey began early. By the end of year eight, she had a list of almost 50 concrete topics she wanted to explore. This single lesson that led to her early decision to pursue several A-Levels was fueled by Zareena’s love for learning. “I wouldn’t have studied subjects if I did not enjoy them,” she explained. Cheema highlighted her commitment to creating balance in education. She announced, “I’ve got just a great, great, great life balance. I’m very happy. I’ve got extra-curriculars, I’ve got fun time, just like any other non-genius average teenager.”
Despite the heavy academic load, Cheema says she hasn’t spent as much time in her books as most students. Her rare ability to breathe it all in is what’s made her such a success. “I’m very lucky. I can read and pick up things quite easily,” she said. This self-awareness extends to her views on her family’s support, as her parents, Usman and Tayyaba, have been consistently encouraging.
As a Punjabi American growing up, Cheema had faced stigmas tied to her culture. She insisted that the story about pushy parents does not fit with her lived experience. In fact, I would push back on the author’s conclusion and say there’s pushiness in the other direction. “And then they’re like ‘oh please, you don’t have to do that many,’” she continued. This nurturing atmosphere has let her soar. She speaks about feeling no stress as she was doing her A Levels.
Although Cheema’s achievements are incredible, she doesn’t like to think of beating 23 A-Levels. “I don’t think it’s going to be possible to do something like 24 degrees,” she stated firmly. Her attention now turns to her upcoming life at Oxford, where she looks forward to starting her studies in medicine.
Oxford has been a lifelong dream. As much as I can remember I was not able to visualize something different dadurch. Even when I was crying and I lost hope, Cheema said, stressing the importance of this milestone in her educational journey.
