Sarah- An Ace Performer

Its 4th February 2002, that’s when little Sarah was born with a muscle missing in her foot. It’s been 10 years today but she still wears a brace all the time on her leg. Everyone used to tease her in school when it was a sports day. One beautiful spring day, she came home jumping up and down, shouting at the top of her voice telling her mom that she had competed in the “field day”- that’s where they have lots of races and other competitive events on the school grounds.

Though her mom was worried about the leg support being used by Sarah, her mom’s mind raced as she tried to think of encouragement for her dear Sarah. She wanted to tell some hard facts of life, however, trying not to let this bring her excitement down. But, before her mom could get her words of encouragement out, she said, “Daddy, You know what? Today I won two of the races!” Her mom couldn’t believe that. And then Sarah came out with a declaration, “Of course, I had an advantage today!!.”

 

And now her mom knew it!! She thought Sarah must have been given a head start, some kind of physical advantage. But again, before she could say anything, Sarah said, “Daddy, I didn’t get a head start... my advantage was that I always wanted to do this and I didn’t give in to all those negative influences in the school. This group of boys in my class have started making livid remarks on the way I limp and they have also tried shouting out my name while I was running on the track. Though I was initially distracted, I had my PT Teacher encouraging me and beckoning to reach her fast at the other end of the line. Mom, you would not believe I had all my eyes only on my teacher and her smile. I knew she was the one who would enjoy my win more than I myself!! . So, I had to try harder and there was no other option left for me!!!”

Samina, Sarah’s mom recalled the first day when she had taken Sarah to get admitted into the school and the principal at the first look at Sarah, outright rejected her admission, due to her physical inability. Samina tried talking her into giving Sarah a chance, but all her pleas went futile. After an hour or so, she slowly walked out of the Principal’s office dragging along a dejected Sarah with a little forlorn face. Once out in the ground, Sarah suddenly got excited looking at a group of students playing with each other in the ground. Little Sarah pleaded with her mom to let her go and play along. Not wanting to disappoint the little Sarah furthermore, Samina took her along to the place where the kids were playing around. There was a young lady standing aside and trying to guide the kids. As Sarah and her mother approached her, she introduced herself as the Physical Training Teacher, Ms. Shailaja. After talking to the PT Teacher for a few minutes, Sarah could not help but get quite enthralled by her smiling face and loving remarks. Samina too was quite impressed by her encouraging words. What’s more, Ms. Shailaja literally impressed upon the Principal into giving little Sarah a chance of studying at the school. From that day on, Sarah regarded Ms. Shailaja as her mentor and parent away from her home. Anything that could bring about a smile onto the face of Ms. Shailaja was the most important task for Sarah.

Today was just such a day that put the task of bringing yet another enchanted smile onto the face of Ms. Shailaja. This loyal adulation of Sarah towards her mentor was an encouraging factor that helped in Sarah acing her most difficult tasks of all, which is taking part in a physical race alongside the regular students.

Thereafter, none of the students who tried mocking at Sarah had come up again with any of their livid remarks nor did it make any difference to the stout inner personality of little Sarah who went on to become even the ‘Head Girl’ of the school in her last term at the school!!!

That’s Sarah!!!