She Was Twelve

Nylvie Loire Aviles Collamat

At the young age of twelve, she met the reality of how life can be cruel. Just like any

other family, her family experienced the lowest point, which drove her parents to decide to stop

her education for a year. She cried herself to sleep that night. She did not want to stop. She

realized that education could help her reach her dreams. She wanted a life free of financial

worries. She wanted a life that will give honor to her parents. She saw how her father worked so

hard to provide for the needs of the family. She saw how her father struggled to be heard and

recognized because he did not finish his education. Because of that, she vowed to finish school

and achieve what her father could not.

The humming of the birds and the chilly breeze woke her. She felt peace. She planned to

enroll in the local public school to continue her education. She knew her parents would

disapprove of it because they want her to have a Christian education. Nevertheless, she decided

to enroll without their knowledge.

She got up excitedly. She was looking forward to enrolling. She could smell the savory

dish her mother was preparing for breakfast. She was thankful that despite their financial

difficulties, the Lord had never left them hungry. She walked to the kitchen and told her mother

she would play with friends after washing the dishes. She was hoping her mother would not

catch on to her plans for that day. Her mother consented.

The family gathered at the dining table for breakfast. Her father said grace and read a few

passages from the Bible. She was now ready to face a new school year. After breakfast, she

washed the dishes hurriedly and went off to her friend’s house. That day was etched on her mind
forever because, at the age of twelve, she got herself enrolled at a public school just so she could

finish her education.

Since then, she has worked her way through education. Her cousin supported her. Her

uncle offered to help her, so she was moved from a public school to a private school. But in turn,

she has to work for her uncle’s family. At twelve, she learned the harsh realities of life. There

were times that she wanted to quit. She was verbally abused, and sometimes when her mother

comes to visit, she could see the marks of stress and poverty written all over her mother’s face.

Seeing that made her endure longer. She vowed to never give up on education until she could

help ease the life of her family.

Fast forward to the present day. She graduated with a degree in nursing, she became a

registered nurse. She even finished a second degree, a degree in the English language. It wasn’t

an easy feat. While in school, her parents tried to provide her all her needs despite the financial

difficulties. She faced discrimination, even from her own relatives. There were times that she

wished she could have what her classmates have. She had sleepless nights because of worry. She

had emotional struggles. Just like Jacob, she struggled with God. After attaining her bachelor’s

degree, she worked abroad, and her life started to get better. She may not have the rich life she

dreamed of but is contented with what she has at the moment.

Every challenge that came her way allowed her to grow her faith and face it with gusto.

She learned that every grueling path to success needs to be trudged with courage and not with

fear. The experiences she underwent were her trophies of triumph that helped her value

education and life as a whole. Life is not always filled with sunny days and rainbows. Imagine if

life is all sunny, wouldn’t it be scorched and hot? That is why the rain of hardships help maintain
balance. The rain allows growth and productivity. It gives beauty to life. Matshona Dhliwayo

said, “beautiful souls are shaped by ugly experiences.”

Even Ellen G. White said that “Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for

us, of which we know nothing.” The Lord will provide. He will never leave anyone. All he wants

is faith and trust in His divine power. The pathways in life are meant to be walked together with

the Lord. Life will never be easy. Like her, she would have given up on education. She would

have chosen a different path, an easier way out of her dilemma. But she chose the road less

trudged. In the end, she conquered life by the grace of God.