My name is Paula. I am starting my grade 8th at Girlstown.
Recently we had the chance to go for vacation. When I arrived at my home, I encountered my father drunk and this made me sad seeing him in this state. Before, my father and mother lived together in a room but now they no longer stay together because they always fight. I love them both and it’s just terrible to see them arguing.
During Christmas day, he was so drunk, and we did not have a happy Christmas Eve. In those moments, I missed the peace in Girlstown and the joy that I had experienced with my mother-sisters and companions. I was only one year with them, during my grade 7th, and there, I felt secure, respected, at peace. I did not hear people shouting and quarreling. There are always kind smiles. I tried to smile at home, but there was no way to calm the screams.
After three days of staying in our house, my aunt died. I was already suffering a lot, but I had to encourage my cousins because of the dead of their mother. Also, I had to protect and encourage my younger siblings and my mother as well because she is suffering a lot for the insults that my father threw at her and for the attitude of my elder brother, he starts drinking alcohol just like my father. He sees how my father disrespects my mother and maybe he thinks that’s just normal, so he answers back to her in the same way.
It was so hard for me to see that my younger brother and my sisters had nothing to eat. I went to the small stores where my mother was usually in debt of something when there was no money to buy, but they no longer allowed us to lend something because we had a lot of debt already.
One day, there was a call informing us that they will cut off the lights and water if we can´t pay the services. My mother had to lend a large sum of money to be able to pay for the light and water services. Now she has more debts to pay. She can´t leave us alone because in total we are all 8 siblings. She has nowhere to leave us.
I was so sorry to leave my mother, but I must study so that I can help my younger brother and my sisters soon. Now that I return to Girlstown, I can sleep with peace. I am very happy with my studies and at the same time a little bit sad thinking of my family who suffers. This helps me to continue and to take this opportunity for me so that someday I might be able to help my family. I was also thinking instead of feeling discouraged for my father and brother, I have to pray a lot so that one day they will be able to change their bad ways and I have to teach my younger brother how to be a different man.
I really like to study at Girlstown, and I stay here because the education that the Sisters are giving to me is of high quality. The things that they teach me are unique. This is a great opportunity to reach my dreams. I would like to graduate from here and be one of the many professionals of my country.
I am very grateful to all who make these things possible for me to reach my dreams. May God bless you always.