Growing up, her parents nurtured her with love and kindness, teaching her the will of God and imparting the bountiful love of Jesus Christ for mankind. They instilled in her the strength and independence to face any circumstances. At the age of four, she took on the responsibility of being a big sister when her second younger sister was born. She cared for her first younger sister, as her mother was occupied with the newborn.
At home, she was known to be naughty, stubborn, and short-tempered, yet outside, she was as timid as a kitten. (Psst—she was even caught once by her classmates shouting at her younger siblings at the top of her lungs.) She was allowed to pave the way for her younger siblings and set an ideal example for them. This responsibility grew when she and her brother were sent to boarding school to study in the 5th and 3rd standards, respectively.
Throughout her academic journey, she exhibited neither exceptional brilliance nor notable dullness. Her abilities in sports and extracurricular activities were limited, and she struggled to engage in these areas actively. The only domain where she excelled was in earning the trust and sympathy of her teachers and the proprietor, thanks to her ostensibly timid demeanour, which was often interpreted as obedience. In reality, she harboured a deep-seated fear of being reprimanded by her teachers. Her peers usually accused her of favouritism, yet she was frequently used as a model student to exemplify obedience, humility, and respectfulness. She found solace in these accolades, relishing the praise and recognition.
As time passed, she grappled with the perplexity of why some students faced punishment for their excessive mischief. Gradually, she began to improve academically and started to engage more with her peers. However, despite her newfound involvement, she remained distinct from her friends in that she was never one to partake in mischief behind the wardens’ backs. It was well-known that students in boarding schools, convents, or hostels were often inclined to mischievous behaviour, typically driven by a desire for food. Unfortunately, whenever she attempted to join in, she would inevitably be caught, dragging her entire group into trouble. Consequently, she earned the nickname “the angel who cannot steal but enjoys the food.”
Her life was characterized by a strict adherence to responsibilities and rules, whether at home or school. This structured existence seemed normal to her until she embarked on her first job. It was then that she encountered the complexities of the real world, which vastly differed from her sheltered experiences. Overwhelmed by the intricacies of life, she faced significant challenges. One crucial realization was her difficulty in generating ideas independently without guidance from supervisors or mentors, a reflection of her upbringing that had emphasized conformity and compliance.
Despite these challenges, she resolved to move forward without looking back. The journey was arduous, but her determination to adapt and overcome the obstacles she faced marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
To be continued____
