My grandma lives in more rural Kenya, near where she grew up. She started a girls school, which takes girls from underprivileged girls who need a safe place to grow, learn, and be a part of a community. Growing up, I have always visited the girls and the school, made friends with them and helped out. Recently I went an other time and bonded with the girls. Most of the girls are around my age, so we related to each other by talking about music, dancing and singing, all things we loved to do. Before this special visit, we helped admit a new girl into the school. Quiet and shy, her mom was terrified, afraid she would not make any friends and long to come home. This school would provide much better opportunities for her, so it was important that she wanted to stay in the school. When i visited, she was one of the most popular girls in her class, immediately blending in with classmates. I had never seen her so happy; she was practically glowing, and couldn't wait to introduce me to her roommates and show me her books.
Visiting this school is always a special experience. It makes me appreciate what I have, and what ISK offers me and provides for me. I'm extremely lucky. It also makes me happy; not only are these girls so much fun to hang out with, helping them wash their clothes and cook their food, making their lives easier, makes my heart feel 5 times bigger than my chest. These girls are smart, responsible and hard working, they inspire me to be better and enjoy going to school and getting the chance to learn more. They teach me that education is a powerful gift that shouldn't be taken for granted. If I'm having a bad morning, and I really don't want to go to school, I think of them and they give me strength. I may help them out by assisting them in their chores, and making them laugh, but what they give me, the inspiration and gratitude; they are the truth ones giving me a gift.
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