REFLECTING

Last night, I watched a movie titled Like Stars on Earth. A story of a young Indian boy named Ishaan.

Ishaan couldn't read or write, he always said the letters were dancing so he couldn't read. Ishaan had trouble recognizing and differentiating letters which looked alike such as b and d, q and p, j and l, same as numbers.
He also had trouble comprehending too many instructions such as "open to page 30, chapter 7, paragraph 4" It felt like a lot of load for him.

He was so stubborn, fought a lot, he played truancy, and was so untidy but Ishaan could paint!.
Due to his ill behaviours, his Dad sent him away to a boarding school after he had repeated a class twice and was told he'll repeat that class again.

Ishaan wept, the thought of being separated from his parents and brother saddened him. In his new school, he was mocked, he became reserved, his self esteem was gone, he never spoke nor paint anymore. He looked frightened all the time.

An art teacher who was experienced in teaching children with disabilities picked interest in Ishaan.

He visited his home and discussed with Ishaan's parents, there he figured Ishaan was suffering from a brain problem called dyslexia and was determined to help Ishaan improve.

He taught Ishaan for 2 hours after school, thrice a week. He was gentle and wouldn't scold him, appreciated his efforts and praised him for every little improvement. Before the end of the term... Ishaan became a quiet but confident genuis.

His teacher conducted a painting competition involving the whole school, teachers and students alike. Ishaan's art teacher painted a portrait of Ishaan.

Meanwhile, Ishaan painted himself in a lonely environment watching a little stream filled with fishes and stars - this was always his imagination.
Ishaan and his teacher made the best painting and they were used as the front and back cover of the school's magazine.

This had me reflecting on my childhood.

Sometime in high school, I had a problem with numbers. Mathematics wasn't for me, I didn't enjoy the subject but I wasn't entirely bad in it. My maths teacher took it upon herself to mock me each time she came to class, she'll flog me for every mistake and told the school about me.

My friends deserted me, I was alone most of the time, my self esteem vanished, I cried often, sang a lot. I couldn't talk to my friends cos they made jest of me too. This is how the habit of writing down everything that happens to me in a diary originated. I got used to being alone and till date, I don't seem to like more than one person around me.

This movie made me weep. It reminded me so much about myself. You know what it feels like to have everyone know you're up to no good? You keep Wondering what's up with you that you can't understand something that's so simple for others.

There are lots of children in the world like Ishaan, going through a lot of things which are beyond their control. Yearning to be understood not criticized, punished, hated or ostracized. It's wrong to make a child feel stupid. The stigma of this can take years to overcome.

Sometimes it's not just okay to know someone isn't good at something, have you ever wondered why? It's very necessary to always find out the fundamental cause of a problem.

Like Ishaan, he didn't just want to be stubborn, he did that to mask his foolishness. He was just suffering from dyslexia! He was willing to learn but no one was patient in teaching him, literally everyone gave up on him.

We should love a little more, care a little more. Be the light in people's dark world and help heal damaged people. Don't just judge, don't just condemn, dare to do more!