Amir Sanni’s achievement at Abertay University is the culmination of a journey that tested his family’s patience, challenged conventional expectations and demanded a determination that went far beyond the classroom.
Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at about 13, Amir went on to earn First-Class Honours in Computer Games Application Development from Abertay University in the United Kingdom, establishing a strong academic foundation for a career in game programming and computer graphics.
Yet, his achievement tells only part of the story. It is also the story of a family that refused to give up, a mother who kept searching for answers, and a young man who held on to his ambitions despite challenges that often made everyday school life a struggle.
In a deeply personal account, Amir’s father recalled the uncertainty that preceded his son’s diagnosis. There were signs that something was wrong, but the family did not initially understand what lay behind them. Simple daily tasks, from buttoning a shirt and tying shoelaces to reading a page and preparing for school, could become frustrating obstacles.
The difficulties followed him into the classroom. Teachers frequently complained about his behaviour, while he was described as restless, disruptive and sometimes the class joker. Without a clear understanding of what he was experiencing, his actions could easily be mistaken for deliberate misconduct rather than signs of a child struggling with an underlying condition.
It was Amir’s mother who continued seeking answers until a specialist eventually diagnosed ADHD. That discovery helped the family make sense of years of uncertainty, but it did not bring an immediate end to their difficulties.
The years that followed involved changes of school, medical consultations, medication, depression and the loss of friendships. Amir had to navigate the emotional weight of feeling different from those around him while trying to find his place in an environment that did not always understand him.
His father also confronted the difficulties of parenting a child whose needs he was still learning to understand. He recalled moments of frustration, painful nights and tears as he searched for ways to help his son. He spoke candidly about the importance of choosing calmer conversations over harsh words, recognising that the way a parent responds to a child’s struggles can leave lasting impressions.
Amid the uncertainty, one thing remained: Amir’s determination to pursue his interest in computer games.
According to his father, Amir had expressed a desire to study computer games development at just 12 years old. Even when school proved difficult and his academic results fell short of expectations, he did not abandon that ambition. He believed in the path he had chosen, and that conviction eventually carried him to Abertay University, where he graduated with First-Class Honours.
Today, Amir is a programmer specialising in game programming and computer graphics, with a particular interest in real-time rendering and the technologies shaping modern interactive experiences. His work sits at the intersection of programming, visual computing and digital creativity, a field that continues to evolve as developers build increasingly sophisticated virtual environments and interactive worlds.
He is also committed to continuous learning, seeking opportunities to deepen his technical knowledge, expand his capabilities and make meaningful contributions to the games industry.
His academic success is a significant milestone, but it is not the end of his story. It marks the beginning of a professional journey in a specialised and competitive industry, where technical skill, creativity and the willingness to keep learning are essential.
Reflecting on his son’s achievement, Amir’s father was equally mindful of the people who helped make it possible. He acknowledged the teachers and private tutors who invested in Amir’s education, the medical professionals who helped the family understand his condition, and the friends whose advice offered new perspectives during difficult moments. He also paid tribute to his wife and daughter for standing by the family throughout the experience.
His reflections carried a message to parents raising neurodivergent children: listen more than you speak, exercise patience, take time to understand how your child experiences the world, and discover their abilities before deciding what they cannot achieve. He urged parents to give their children the support they need to develop their potential rather than allowing early difficulties to become permanent judgments about their future.
That message resonates beyond Amir’s family. Children who struggle in conventional learning environments are sometimes judged by their behaviour or academic performance before the reasons for those difficulties are properly understood. Their potential can be overlooked when the focus remains on what they find difficult rather than what they can become with appropriate support.
Amir’s experience illustrates why understanding matters. A diagnosis did not erase his challenges, and his eventual success should not be taken to mean that every child with ADHD will follow the same path. What his journey demonstrates is that a child’s difficulties need not tell the whole story of their life.
Behind his First-Class degree are years of struggle, the persistence of a family determined to find answers, and a young man who continued to pursue a goal that mattered to him.
As Amir Sanni takes his next steps in game programming and computer graphics, his achievement offers encouragement to young people who have been misunderstood, parents searching for answers and educators working to recognise ability in different forms.
His story is a reminder that a difficult childhood does not have to dictate an adult’s future, and that the right support, combined with personal determination, can help open doors that once seemed out of reach.
