I always believed that the people we share gifts with are the ones we cherish the most, and that the more intentional the gifts are, the deeper the love behind it. But over the years, I've come to realize that our best gifts also go to the people with whom we share fewer bonds and memories with. For most of such gifts, it is simply our thoughtfulness that pushes us toward gifting these strangers or acquaintances the very things they long for. That kind of generosity is one of the things that makes the world a better place.
This season, if I could give anyone a gift that would truly do good, I would choose my neighbour’s son. I have chosen him for this because I have watched him grow over the years, although I didn't have the opportunity to spend enough time with him like my sisters did. But I remember he used to be the sweet child who followed my siblings around, then the teenager who ran errands with genuine excitement, and now a young adult praying for the financial means to attend university like his peers.
The past year has been difficult for him and his family. There's been massive layoffs across industries in my country for the past two to three years, and his father was affected. Although he received a payment for the sudden termination of his employment, the sum was not enough to cover the family’s bills, including the completion of the house they hoped to move into before the layoff.
His mother, on the other hand, is a housewife who all these years, has relied fully on her husband's income. His older siblings are recent university graduates whose education consumed much of the family’s savings. And while I understand that the parents had to see them through graduation, it still feels unfair that the last child, the one who should have more shoulders to lean on, is the one struggling the most to gain access to higher education.
This lovely kid wrote his qualifying exams last year but he could not move forward due to lack of funds. This year, he has had to settle for learning male tailoring even though it's not something he likes. Regardless of this, he tries his best to adapt to his new reality. But each time he leaves home in the morning, I see the sadness in his eyes. There is zero passion for this skill he is learning and obviously no genuine drive to keep going. Yet he still shows up at his training centre. Several times, I have noticed how much his face lights up when he talks about going to the university, but his voice becomes almost neutral when he mentions tailoring. Anyone, including myself, can tell where his heart truly is.
To be honest, his situation reminds me of one of the major problems we face in our educational system, especially in my country where loans are not easily accessible and the government does very little to alleviate the struggles of the masses: The sore problem of access remains.
I believe every adult should learn a skill for survival, but I also believe education should be accessible to everyone regardless of wealth. Children should not be forced into the harsh realities of adulthood before experiencing what it feels like to go through college. Most importantly, this young man should not be denied the chance to pursue the path he genuinely desires. He shouldn't have to pay for the mistakes his parents may have also made with any spending decisions in the past.
So, if I could give a gift that would create real happiness this season, I would give it all to him. I would write him a cheque to cover his first two years in the university, which would give him enough time to save from the tailoring skill he is learning and support himself in his third year. I would also offer him constant moral and emotional support. With these gifts, I would let him know that his dreams are valid and that he can begin to live them in the coming year.
This post is a response to question 1 of this week's Ladies of hive contest prompt:
If you could give a gift that has great potential to do good for this holiday season, what would it be, who would you give it to, and why?
If you'd like to share your own piece, you can start by reading the rules for entry here.
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