Lessons learnt from a school kid ...

Yesterday I went to attend my daughter's prize distribution in her school - something that came back into our lives after a 6 year lull - and I came back more enriched....

 Ofcourse, I was extremely happy to see my daughter fight her way back to the top; more so for what it indicated to me - that she is, like me, a fighter! God bless her and always keep that fire raging in her....

 But my biggest take away from this event was actually another little princess from the same school, a recipient of another much more deserving award. A young daughter, Vaishnavi Gopal, who has indeed proved to me once again that you can conquer the world with a "can-do" attitude .... seeing her smiling on stage in her wheelchair, taught me something again....

 But before that, I urge you to read her story through the link below:

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/inside.asp?section=educationnation&xfile=/data/educationnation/2014/May/educationnation_May25.xml

My daughter told me about her interactions with Vaishnavi and how "normal" she was in school and how she well she coped with her "special" condition. Seeing the child, I could not but help stand up and clap with a lump in my throat as did the rest of the audience last evening. Words are not enough to salute the spirit of this young girl and all those who worked with her to make it possible. 

 There was also mention of another kid in her school, who has a severe kidney condition and has to go through dialysis every day but is still continuing her studies in Grade 7 - again with able support from those around her.

 My soul salutes these bravehearts - young things that should be focussing on meaningless stuff like One Direction or Vampire's Diaries or Hunger Games or what have you; instead they fight with what Life has thrown their way so courageously and come out with victorious.....


I learnt once again from Vaishnavi what "real" adversity means, and how often we see our problems as huge "issues" when they are not - not really. We make mountains out of molehills and feel we are being wronged, when what we face is not even an iota of what real "adversity" could be.

 I learnt once again from Vaishnavi that the true test of character is your attitude towards life and your resilience throughout the journey. Life is often unfair - sometimes, even cruel - but it's completely up to us how we react to situations and circumstances that face us. And that through our choices, we shape our lives. 

 I salute this girl, younger than my daughter, that once again taught me some life lessons. I  hope and pray that she continues to live as happily and as independently as she wishes. 

 Vaishnavi wants to be a teacher one day - I wish to tell her that she is already one. And I am thankful for the lessons she taught me last evening.

 God Bless Her.

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