Her Story ... Woman & Family
Milestones:
Obtained French Baccalaureate at only 16
Earned silver medal for 2nd place on national level
All images courtesy of Rare Books & Special Collections Library, AUC
II. Alexandria Years
Doria flourished in Alexandria and it was here that she finished her schooling and looked ahead to a life of work and purpose. It was unheard of for women to work during this period. Young ladies from good families were expected to be given a basic education and then to marry and remain at home with their children and families. From a very early age, Doria was adamant that she wanted more than this from life. She wanted to learn, work and teach. She says in her memoir, “if I were to have a career I decided it would have to be a brilliant career.”
Doria became the youngest person in Egypt at 16 to obtain the French Baccalaureate (French ‘A’ level equivalent) and placed second in all of Egypt. She was awarded a silver medal of commendation, the first of many academic awards she received in her lifetime.
