I was sitting there, feeling confused as a group of 14-year-old girls gathered around me. I didn’t know where to start the conversation. Finally, I gathered my courage. They were all looking at me with different emotions in their eyes; some seemed confident, while others were shy. But they were all there for me, though I would say I was present there because of their invitation.
They were students of my mother, and she told me that her students wanted to meet the girl who studied in a big city. I introduced myself, but they already knew who I was. One girl stood up and said, "You were the reason I’m studying here." I was shocked. I didn’t know her; I was seeing her for the first time. When I asked her to explain, she told me that her father had not allowed her to attend school. My mother convinced him by using my example of how I live in a big city and survive in a competitive environment on my own.
Honestly, I knew my mother deserved that credit. But there was something in the girl’s eyes that made me keep quiet, except to hug her. These girls were naïve, unaware of what life and the world were like outside our small village. At that moment, I wanted to do something for them. I promised that every time I returned to the village from Lahore, I would visit them. After that, all the girls started asking questions about what life in Lahore was like.
Some were eager to join my university, and one of them asked what I do in Lahore. It was hard to explain the research to them. They wanted to know about my work, but time was short since the school break was about to end. However, my inner environmentalist researcher urged me to share, even briefly, how I studied an issue that my people hadn’t yet considered. One of them asked, "Can we help you?" I didn’t expect that question. "Yes, we all can play our part," I replied. Their eyes started to sparkle. I shared a few things they could do and promised that the next time I came, I would arrange extra time with their teachers.
I left with an overwhelmed heart. There was a moment when I realized that I was the whole world for them. I hope that, even if it's small, I will make a change in their lives.
A.Saher
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