A society where the differences are looked down upon is a society nobody wants to live in. For each and every one of us are different in our own way. Yet, it is also us who look down on the different nor accept their differences. My name is Sania Malik and this is my story.
Growing up, I came to find out about the financial difficulties my family was facing with my single mom being the only pillar that was keeping us from collapsing. And so after grade 12, I made the sacrificial choice to start working full time to help my mum instead of pursuing further studies. My job hunt led me to apply at a primary school that I knew little to nothing about. Seeing the opportunity, I gave it a go and went to attend the interview.
Before the interview, as I was entering the school, I noticed a child who seemed to have down syndrome leaving the campus. Trying not to overthink, I told myself he must be one of the few special needs students in the school. It was only when I was getting interviewed, did it come to my senses that this was a primary school for children with special needs. The interview came to an end and I even got the job. But my heart was still hesitant about what I was getting myself into.
Personally, I am an emotionally sensitive and sympathetic being. At the school, I would see these little innocent faces struggling with the simplest of daily tasks and trying their best to communicate. My heart would wrench in such situations and sympathy was taking a toll on me. It made me sceptical whether I wanted to continue working as a teacher assistant for these kids I took care of with all the emotional weight I was putting on myself. It had come to a point where I felt like leaving was the only cure. I wanted to quit!
After some time as a teacher assistant for children with special needs, I was so emotionally drowned into the job that it had started to take a toll on my mental health. And the only clear way out was quitting. Until one day, in a McDonald’s, I encountered a little Muslim boy who was seemingly autistic. He was throwing tantrums at his mother and the employees, asking for an orange juice. The employees frustrated, mother embarrassed and the customers disturbed, all urging the boy to leave. The little kid was so helpless and oblivious of the “chaos” he had created. Seeing the people around him unable to treat him with the basic kindness that an autistic kid must have, my anger boiled and I decided to intervene. I told the employee to politely serve the child and asked the mother to stay calm towards the autism of her child and somehow everything was resolved. And it was right then in that very moment I realized the value of my work and what I wanted to do. I wanted to protect these pure souls who are not given the attention and care they require, to assist them in their difficulties and treat them like any other normal child.
Through connecting with them and being a part of their world, I want to tell the world that their difference and disability is not a shame nor a disturbance. It was not their choice to be the way they are. We often say how we should learn to accept and respect each other's differences and yet we label these kids to be a type of “different different”. We all are different in our own way and so are they. Just like us, they too deserve to be treated with the same love, respect and patience as any other child out there is treated with. It is our job to love, cherish and protect these innocent souls when others can't.
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