pick a word , paint a story #22

Hello fellow steemians welcome to my blog. I remain @julitbella. I'm here to participate in this amazing contest organized by @senehasa. I hope you enjoy reading through my story.

Life never gave me a smooth start, especially when it came to education. While other children were reading aloud in class and spelling big words, I was that one child everyone laughed at, the one always sent out of class, called names, and left behind. But what happens when a dim light refuses to go out? It learns to glow.
In this entry for Pick a Word, Paint a Story #22, I share my personal journey from being labeled "dull" to becoming a student others now look up to.
This is not just a story,it is proof that no matter how dark your beginning may be, your glow will come if you refuse to give up.

From Darkness to Glow

Growing up as a child, I knew absolutely nothing academically. I was in nursery and primary school, but education felt impossible. I couldn’t read, write, or even spell simple words. My mom, struggling financially, often refused to buy schoolbooks. She felt they weren’t necessary since we couldn’t afford everything. This affected me deeply.

During English reading exercises, my teacher would send me out of the class simply because I couldn’t keep up. That moment began the downward spiral of my self-esteem. Everyone around me called me names, and I was labeled “that dull child.” I believed it too.

After primary school, I got into a secondary school called Excellence School, a place known for selecting only the best students. My first year, JSS1, was hell for me. I couldn’t read, spell, or understand anything on my own. I felt like a failure in a sea of brilliant students.

But then something happened

My English teacher took me personally as her mission. She didn’t give up on me. Every class, she pushed me to read, spell, and try, even if it meant flogging me when I got things wrong. I cried a lot. It wasn’t because I was stubborn, I simply didn’t know how to be like the other students. But slowly, painfully, things began to change.

By JSS2, I could read, spell, and form simple sentences. That same girl who couldn’t write her name without help was now answering questions in class. My teacher’s efforts were not wasted. I started to glow.

By JSS3, I could read fluently, spell confidently, and write exams without fear. The girl who always took last position started coming out with flying colors. I went from being the class outcast to one of the best students. Teachers began to love me. The school admin shared my story on the assembly ground as a testimony of growth and possibility.

Suddenly, everyone wanted to be my friend. I had become the light I never thought I could be.

Today, I may not know it all, but I shine in my own way. I am glowing not just academically, but emotionally and mentally. And I owe it all to the teacher who believed in me, and to the little girl who never gave up on her dream to become better.

No matter how dark your beginning may be, you must never give up on yourself. Life may push you down, and people may call you names, but as long as you keep trying, your glow will shine through. Everyone has a different learning pace, and struggling today does not mean you’ll fail tomorrow.

Believe in your journey. Be patient with your growth. And when it gets hard, remember that your glow is not lost, it’s just waiting for the right time to shine.

I also want to invite @mercybliss and @jemilatbuhari and @alexanderpeace to participate in this contest.

Thank you for going through my post and blog. I hope to get feedback