Everyone bound to have someone that inspires you at any point of
your life and I have one too. For me, the person that inspires me and leave an
impact on my life is my best friend, Serkhee.
As you may not know, I am a born as premature baby. However, due
to some incidents there is a delay before my mum reached the hospital. This results
in not having enough oxygen for the baby. Thus, I have mild cerebral palsy from
birth.
I never understood what cerebral palsy is when I was young, all I
know was that I am slightly different in terms of physical fitness from the
rest. I also never understood why I was treated differently from the rest of
the students by my teacher, Ms Goh in kindergarden too. My books were used as a
teacher’s reference book to write model answers for kids to follow and I
remembered despite raising hands up for permission to go toilet first, I was usually
ignored or was always the last one being allowed to go for my toilet break.
Computer lessons wasn’t fun too, because all I did was staring at the blank
screen of spoiled computer where others get to play games (there’s other workable
computer tables too, but I got swapped to this one). It may seemed like a no
big deal. Or some may say: “It’s ok, kids don’t feel.” However, to be honest,
the treatment I got has affected me a lot. And as a kid, I do not dare to speak
up or let my parents know about it. This experience I had during my school days
in kindergarden left a negative impact on my impression towards schooling and
towards people. I thought that everyone else will be like Ms Goh and school is
not a place for someone like me to learn.
Things has started to change for the better when I entered primary
school and this is also where I first met Serkhee in primary two. Serkhee is a
bubbly girl. She is someone who is very lively, chatty and is always wearing a
smile on her face and skipping around happily and actively in school. While I
am a total opposite as compared to her and always roams around alone during
lunch breaks.
Despite me having a poker face all the time and my flaws, Serkhee did
not turn away and will always make effort to talk to me, saying hi and cracking
lame jokes etc. She will always make the effort to ask me to join them in lunch
and checks on how I am doing occasionally.
Overtime, Serkhee and I had become best of friends. On one fine
day, I decided to tell her about the incident that I had been through in my kindergarden
days and told her that I am always very curious why didn’t she avoided me like
how Ms Goh and everyone else did. And the answer bought me to tears. She replied
“You look fine and I don’t see any differences between you and the others. Why
do I have to avoid you or treat you differently? You have a good heart and you
are my friend, that’s all it matters.”
I have never forget what Serkhee told me and what she did. Serkhee
not only has been the one that is always encouraging me, giving me assurance
that I can do better, lending me listening ear, and taking in my lame jokes,
she is also the one that shows me light and get me out of the shadows I had due
to the incident that happened. I have become a happier and a more cheerful
person and opens up more unlike the old me. Thank you Serkhee for always being
there, thank you for all your encouragements, thank you for impacting my life, thank
you for caring, and most importantly, thank you for being my friend and my family.
I am lucky to have you here with me. People say friends are like stars; they
come and go, but the ones that stays are the ones that glow. You glow. :)
“Best friend” isn’t just a
name. A best friend is someone who’s there for you, no matter what. You can
trust them, with anything and everything. Best friends share tears and laughs,
almost like their emotions are intertwined. Most importantly, you can always
count on a best friend. - Unknown
