The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.106)

2019 • 01 36 students who looked down on me would now turn to me for help with their homework. I don’t blame them for their bad attitude in the past, and will tell them all that I understand. The happiest thing is that I can now read every single letter for my father, be it in Mandarin, English or Malay. It is no longer an issue to me.” With her dedication, Lai Ho got rid of the stigma of being labelled the “poor-performing student who fails everything”. She proved that with “perseverance, determination and faith”, she could change herself and be a better person. Amother’s love for a lonely soul Lai Ho’s unbeatable learning spirit touched volunteer Lim Ah Lian, who visited from time to time. Every time she made progress, the volunteer would give her a hanging ornament with a motivational quote or blessing phrase, or a little gift, to encourage her to strive on. As a mother of two, Ah Lian felt sorry for the girl, who was without the care of a mother. Therefore, she has taken Lai Ho under her wings and treated her like her own. She would take her out for walks and meals. When the girl had issues, Ah Lian would encourage her to speak about it and share her feelings. Lai Ho felt the love of a mother from Ah Lian and gradually, she opened up to her. Ah Lian knew that Lai Ho spent most of her time studying, hence rarely participated in extra-curricular activities. Although the girl would seek advice from the school’s counsellor whenever she had an issue or doubt, Ah Lian was worried about her non-existing social circle and its possible effect on her. Thus, she encouraged Lai Ho to participate in after-school activities and mix with other students. Sometimes, when Lai Ho had difficulty with her homework, she would complain to Ah Lian about it. The latter would then get for her relevant reference books and remind her not to fear but to consult her teachers when she encountered a problem. Lai Ho was grateful for the reminders, which had enabled her to learn more. Ah Lian’s heart of a mother also touched Lai Ho. For example, when she learnt that Lai Ho was unwell, she took her to see a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and encouraged her to exercise more. Lai Ho was truly touched by these little caring actions. On December 2, 2018, and accompanied by her dad, Lai Ho attended the 2018 Tzu Chi Study Grant & Incentives Presentation Ceremony at KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall. It was a joyful and meaningful day for both of them because on this day, the child was awarded “Academic Progress Award” to recognize the improvement she had made academically. When she walked up the stage to receive the certificate, her dad smiled happily. From the father’s point of view, his daughter has been well behaved.Although he was previously worried that her future may be tougher without the interest to study, he never wanted to increase her mental burden and had turned his worry into encouragement. “This year, she scored A for eight subjects, and hit an overall average of 73%. It is an achievement. I am overjoyed and relieved. As long as she continues her efforts, her future will no longer be tough,” he shared cheerfully. Upon receiving the Award from the volunteer, Lai Ho was over the moon. To her, this certificate not only has Tzu Chi’s blessing and encouragement, but is also a token of recognition that will support her to move forward into the future and her dream of building her career in the corporate world, do something to benefit the people with her knowledge and give her dad a good life. pecial Feature