Some dreams do not fade away with the passage of time. For forty-five-year-old Renu Hans from Jammu, this wait lasted a full twenty-two years. Despite her hearing and speech difficulties, the dream of completing her education had always remained alive within Renu. She took the tenth-grade examination before her marriage, but she could not pass it at that time. Amidst family life and responsibilities, her studies fell by the wayside. After 22 years, she returned to books; this time, her son, Naman Koul, was with her. The son whom the mother had taught the first steps of life was now showing her the path to education. Namn said, Mom used to go to quite a few places with her friends and colleagues. She used to feel that if they can do a job, why can’t she? When Mom told me, I tried going around to various schools. Then I went to the board, and that’s where I found out about the board scheme JKS Open School. Then I filled my mother’s form and got her registration done. She faced several challenges. It wasn’t easy to start reading again after such a long break. Memorizing past lessons, understanding new topics every day, and maintaining self-confidence. Naman himself was a student, yet alongside his own studies, he fully supported his mother in her preparations. When I returned from school in the evening, I would spend some time with my mother; I had my own studies to attend to, but I also managed her studies alongside my own. I used to clear my mother’s doubts as well. Renu Hans not only passed the 10th-grade examination but also secured 82% marks. Everyone was very happy that Mother’s results were good. Renu’s story reminds us that there is no fixed age for education. And there is no age limit for fulfilling dreams. Sometimes, it takes years to reach the destination, and at other times, the hand that leads you there belongs to your own child.
