By Kyaw Ye Aung
I believe that everyone has an idol in their life to inspire and motivate them. When we face bad days, we often feel unproductive and physically exhausted, which also reduces our self-confidence. On the other hand, we can overcome life’s challenges with confidence when we look at our idols and see how they faced their own difficulties. This clearly shows why an iconic person is essential for all of us.
In my life, my father is my ultimate idol, and there is no doubt about this argument. You won’t believe how much I have improved because of him throughout my life. One of my greatest personal achievements was overcoming my fear of learning the English language. Back in my primary, secondary, and high school days, I was very weak in both English and Mathematics. At first, I blamed myself for being a dull student before I received valuable advice and encouragement from my dad. Afterwards, with his constant assistance and guidance, I tried my best to improve my English skills.
Most of my energy for learning English came from my father. He was born in 1957 in a small village. He grew up in a family of seven members as the third son, deeply loved by his grandmother. Despite facing a difficult financial situation during his childhood, he was exceptionally intelligent at school. He was beloved by his teachers and classmates because he was an outstanding student who was kind-hearted, honest, and always ready to help others.
According to his stories, he proposed to my mother, and she accepted. They got married when they were over 30 years old and went on to have three daughters and three sons. Unfortunately, the eldest and youngest sons passed away at a very young age due to pertussis (whooping cough) and dengue fever. Nevertheless, my parents cared for the rest of us to the absolute best of their abilities. Even though they lived in a very small, underdeveloped village, they placed an incredible emphasis on their children’s education. They strongly believed that investing in their children’s future through education was the best decision any parent could make. They always reminded us that although they were poor, education was the special gift they could offer us. That is the true reflection of immense love and parental dedication.
Realizing that fluency in English can open doors to career opportunities, better employment, higher salaries, and international travel, I decided to teach myself and am still learning by attending English classes. As a result, I can now communicate confidently with others. My English skills have improved immensely compared to my high school years. I am deeply thankful to my father, who brightened my future with his motivational words, valuable wisdom, and priceless advice.
In conclusion, everyone should have an idol in life to navigate difficulties during hard times. A role model motivates us to strive for our goals. For anyone endeavouring to achieve their dreams, choosing a role model is of paramount importance. Most importantly, we must actively try to follow their example so that we, too, can become effective and inspiring role models for others.
#GlobalNewLightOfMyanmar