With so many ‘successes’ it would have been hard to pick the
heart-warmer that deserved a special ‘A’ score.
It ought to have been the lead story, some might argue, but it was
not. It was for the most part mentioned
in passing. U.G. Thilini Nimesha Jayatilleka
of Ambanpiriya, Kegalle was one of the thousands whose results ensure
university entrance. She, however, is
not just another name, another number.
She did not write down a single answer.
That’s what’s special. She spoke
out her answers.
She has never walked in her life. She was born with a rare condition which
hampers use of hands of legs. Treatment
required her parents, both teachers, to move her from school to school. She studied at St. Joseph’s Convent, Kegalle,
before moving to the Special Education School in Ambanpitiya when she entered
the 7th Grade, a school where her mother was Vice Principal.
The Principal of the school Buddhika Wickramanayake and his
staff supported her all the way. They
taught, she listened. They asked questions, she answered. She passed her O/L
exam with 5 credit passes. At the time
the school did not accommodate A/L students, but since this little girl had
done so well, despite all the obstacles circumstances had put in her way, the
school was upgraded to allow her to continue her studies there. The Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa, Mahipala
Herath had interceded on her behalf and with the support of the Presidential
Secretariat Thilini Nimesha was able to dream about further studies.
Although set up as long ago as 1964 thanks to an initiative
of P.B. J. Kalugalle, this ‘special school’ did not prosper. There had been just 8 students when
Wickramanayake took over in 2009. Now
there are 38. The school got ‘Maha
Vidyala’ status only due to the achievements of little Thilini Nimesha. Today she is about to enter university. Today
her childhood dream of becoming a professor is that much closer to being
realized.
She didn’t score the highest marks in the island in the Arts
stream. She didn’t score the highest
marks in the Kegalle District either.
And yet, who can claim that she did not out-perform all the candidates
at the A/L Examination in 2012?
There must have been determination and there must have been
a lot of love and caring in the long process that culminated in Thilini Nimesha
doing so well at the exam. Her parents
are naturally proud. So too her teachers.
Indeed every citizen of this country ought to be proud of her and of
this country which, despite all its many ills, is endowed with enough resources
and love to see children like Thilini Nimesha come through with flying
colors.
She does not say it, but her life and her achievements tell
all of us that we really don’t have the right to complain about being deprived
of this or that. She tells us to focus
on what we have and do the best we can, be the best we can be. Her achievement is a lesson. Her life teaches us.
She is tall, this little girl. She is smart. Beautiful. Accomplished.
She dreams like any of us. She
turns dream into reality, with a little help from friends and family. Perhaps this is because she is willing to
dream. Perhaps the rest of us don’t
dream or don’t dream as much. And
perhaps even those who do are handicapped in some way that prohibits
dream-realization.
Yesterday was Independence Day. There were many ways to celebrate. Many raised the National
Flag. A few perhaps would have spared a thought for
this courageous little girl, for if we are to be a better nation and a truly
independent one, we need more of the kind of spirit that she has
cultivated. She has made us all a little bit taller and
given that little extra hop to our individual and collective steps. If we can, as a nation, walk an extra mile on
the road to betterment, then it may very well be because she decided that if
she cannot walk, she will fly.
1 comments:
Thanks for sharing, it was interesting to read!
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