Inspiration of the day: Tererai Trent

Over an hour or so ago, I had an “anonymous person” respond this to my blog. In their words:  

I think it is funny that people think this way.

This inspired me to write the story of Tererai Trent, a woman born & raised in rural Zimbabwe, lived without running water, electricity, and access to education. She was married at 11, had three children by 18, and her husband beat her every day. "In my village girls had no hopes, only boys had the opportunity to go to school" Terarai said in an interview with Oprah. “As a little girl, I was desperate to learn, I was secretly doing my brother’s homework.” She said.

Terarai wrote her dreams down and burried them in a tin can under a rock. She struggled and fought to achieve her dreams in moving to the US and attain an education. "I truly believe in these dreams, and I hope one day to work for the causes of women and girls in poverty." Terarai was able to successfully achieve her dreams. Today, she is remarried and currently finishing her PHD in Oklahoma. After every achievement, Tererai returned home to Zimbabwe, unearthed her tin of dreams and checked off each goal she accomplished. Her story has made her a symbol of hope around the world.

Please watch this inspiring and moving video of her incredible story.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Tererai-Trents-Story-Video

I can relate with Tererai’s experience. I too have had my education taken away from me. When I was studying at an all-girls Catholic college in the Philippines, I was told by the Dean of my former college to take a leave from
school- and end my studies temporarily, because of my single pregnancy. I believe as a woman, we deserve the right to an education regardless of our state. I opted to continue my studies anyway at another school.  Due to this experience, I feel honored to be able to study in any school, regardless of it's status. The experience also allowed me to value education more. Like Terarai, it is my dream to pursue a graduate degree (maybe even a PHD, if I have the chance). I currently don't have enough credits to get into graduate school, and that is why i'm taking my post-baccalaureate to get the units I need in order to apply for my Master's.

Watching Terarai tell her story brought me in tears when she said (and with so much conviction), “My name is Terarai and I want to go to America to have an education.” It made me realize how blessed I am in life. I have an incredibly supportive family, who push me and make me realize the importance of receiving a higher education. Who give me the opportunity to study in the world’s best schools, while taking care of my daughter, as I am achieving this. I may be a single mother, but I had never felt as if I was doing this alone. I have seen kids who have had the opportunity to be given an education, and take it for granted. It is stories like Terarai's, stories that embody hope, and the reality of dreams-- that make life beautiful.

For the recent times I have been hesitant about going back to school. Going back to school meant not working (and not having a stable source of income), more importantly it meant time away from my daughter. Then watching something as powerful as Tererai’s story, makes me, even more so, eager to be going back to school again. Thank you Tererai for your inspiration, for providing education to those who do not have the opportunity to be educated, most importantly for being a voice to the voiceless.  And to this anonymous person who responded to my blog, I’d only like to thank you. Thank you for making me realize how blessed I am. Thank you for making me even more so, grateful for the life that I am living. I only wish that you continue to bring out the best in everyone around you. 

Like Terarai, I wrote about my dreams. I wrote them down behind my UPenn rejection letter, to motivate me to fight harder to achieve my dreams. I keep it folded next to my bedside table. I hope to make them true one day, each and every one of them.

Nicholas Kristof for the NYTimes writes about Terarai Trent and adds:

The larger point, of course, is that there are so many other Tererais out there. Some 75 million children of primary-school age are not attending school, and 225 million older children are not attending secondary school. The UN estimates that $11 billion a year could get these younger kids in primary school by 2015. The Global Campaign for Education calls for $16 billion in new spending a year to get kids in primary school and junior high school.