Reaching for a Lifetime of Success

Every morning, at dawn she would go to the graveyard to pick the 'kemboja' flowers to sell them at the local market. At noon, with the money from the sale of her flowers, she would be able to buy two packets of 'nasi lemak'. She would then stop by the neighbouring school and take a peek at the children who were learning in their classes. She had always yearned to go to school but she knew that would never be given the opportunity to do so. Yet, all these did not stop her from sitting outside the school fence and trying to learn from afar. .
             The moment the school bell rang, she would rush to the gambling centre to hand the remaining money from the sale of her flowers and a packet of 'nasi lemak' to her mother. After lunch, this young girl would go to the rubbish dump to collect recyclable items to get extra money. By evening, she would be able to collect enough money for two plates of rice for herself and her mum. Sometimes, she would be able to collect extra money and she would keep them in her piggy bank. When her piggy bank was full, she would bank in the money. She believed that as long as she persevered, she would be able to keep enough money to study. This young girl was not able to lead a normal life like any other child. Her friends were her neighbours, whom from young were hooked into drugs and prostitution. However, never did it cross her mind to be one of them. Instead, she chose to be different because she knew that she still had so many dreams to be achieved.
             At night, she would just hold her piggy bank tightly in her arms as she fell asleep on her wet pillow of tears. Her life was just like a routine until one day she fell in love with a young man who later became her husband. She was only nineteen when she got married. When she got married, she thought that her sorrows and nightmares would finally be over and she would be able to pursue what she had always longed for, education.