From gym cleaner to law graduate: Ana Kristine Elayda’s journey in Dubai

Early challenges and determination

Before she could join online lessons during the pandemic, Elayda needed to buy a phone. She balanced schoolwork with tutoring peers and then took a job cleaning a gym to make ends meet. She described her upbringing as one where money was tight, noting her mother’s work as a construction site safety officer and the pivotal roles played by her grandmother, aunt and uncle in her upbringing.

“I am proud of that, not because of the medal, but because of what it took to get there,” Elayda told Gulf News, remembering her senior high school graduation in 2022, when she earned high honours with an average of 97 out of 100 in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) strand.

That determination later helped her obtain an opportunity to study law in Dubai, where financial assistance, professional experience and encouragement from those around her steered her toward a career she once found hard to imagine.

Moving to Dubai and academic pursuit

At age 19, Elayda relocated to Dubai and lived with her aunt and other relatives, gaining a familiar support network as she adjusted to a new country. She began working as a legal assistant and paralegal, acquiring experience in contract review, client matters and the daily operations of a law practice.

Her academic performance earned her a 30 percent scholarship toward the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme at Middlesex University Dubai, and she also secured sponsorship from Italian lawyer Antonio Maria Varvaro, who offered to fund her studies through his firm while she worked there.

“For a family like mine, every dirham of that mattered. I went from attending online classes on a phone which I had cleaned a gym to afford, to sitting in a lecture hall with classmates from all over the world,” shared Elayda.

Studying in Dubai exposed her to an international academic setting unlike anything she had encountered before.

Balancing study and work

Her schedule was demanding; mornings were devoted to university lectures while afternoons were often spent at the law firm. She also undertook internships, including unpaid placements, and took on smaller jobs to cover personal expenses and build experience.

“It was tiring, but it meant that by the time I reached my final year, I already understood how the law works outside a textbook,” described Elayda.

Juggling work and study posed challenges, particularly the lack of free time.

“The biggest obstacle was time. I was studying a demanding law degree while working and there were no spare hours.”

Adapting to the British-style legal education system required a shift toward independent analysis and constructing clear arguments rather than rote memorisation.

“I stopped trying to prove I belonged and simply did the work, every day. The grades followed.”

Reflections, achievements and outlook

For Elayda, the UAE’s contribution extended beyond university access and employment; living and studying in Dubai brought her into contact with diverse backgrounds and helped her grow more comfortable with her own story.

She once saw her background as something to overcome or conceal, but over time she began to view it as a source of her discipline and determination.

“Dubai taught me that where you start does not decide where you finish. I also learned that resilience alone is not enough. I needed people. My family here, my classmates, and the mentors who took a chance on me. Asking for help was something I had to learn and it changed everything,” explained Elayda.

She recalled that the newcomer to Dubai would have hesitated to speak up in lectures, whereas now she feels more willing to contribute and claim her place in professional environments.

Elayda graduated with first class honours in law, regarding the achievement as a milestone rather than an endpoint. She is currently preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, the pathway she is pursuing to qualify as a solicitor.

Alongside her studies and professional development, she completed internships focused on international trade and arbitration and earned certifications in Incoterms 2020, international arbitration, standby letters of credit and anti‑money laundering.

“My long-term goal is to build a career in the UAE and, one day, to open the same kind of door for another student that was opened for me,” stated Elayda.

She credited her grandmother, mother, aunt and uncle, as well as Antonio Maria Varvaro, for supporting her progress, noting that their help combined with the lessons and experiences in Dubai moved her from working to afford basic educational needs to preparing for a professional legal career.

For young expatriates facing financial strain or uncertainty about the future, Elayda believes that one’s starting point should not dictate how far one can go.

She urged students to utilise university resources, seek honest feedback from those who can help them improve, and seize opportunities even when they feel unprepared.

“Your circumstances are your starting point, not your limit. You will never feel fully ready, show up anyway,” said Elayda.

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