THE TAMED MONSTER

BY WARDA MALIK

The infinite surge of emotion that overtakes and blinds us to the needs of others is the ‘selfishness’ which refuses to be tamed and continues to rouse inside of us. To tame this heinous monster is, indeed, the greatest skill a man can master.

I entered Kingston with no strong motive and dreams and was one of those numerous individuals who lived, because life had to be lived. As my experiences molded into desires that overtook me and I felt the need to achieve and strive for a certain aspect I had firm belief in; it would not be wrong to say that it was the small world confined within the walls of Kingston School that helped me discover my conscience to a much more extent.

The example I quote here is of this young man who studied here and happened to be mentally challenged. Sat on a chair outside, he came and took a place next to myself. I became rather perplexed but he had this smile on his face. A smile I have never been able to forget. It was a smile which hid agony, abandonment and despair but his teeth continued to glisten and his lips twirled – as the world saw it. Soon, I became engaged into conversations with him and he told me of his diary where he wrote down his feelings. I wanted to view the world through the eyes of a person who had certain disabilities, a person who saw anguish in what others were able to do while he remained silent and immobile. However, he refused to let me touch his world by viewing his diary. With the passage of time, I gained his trust and he finally decided to unveil his dreams.

Due to his history still remaining a secret embedded in my heart, I refuse to reveal it. However, he had dreams which many of us – despite being physically and mentally fit – have never had the courage to even suppose. He wished to travel around the globe and spent hours striving to turn his dream into reality. His determination overwhelmed me and it was his commitment to the past which gave him the valor to persevere. Surrounded in his unconditional love to the past, he continued to give to the community and spread his knowledge on travel. He gave to the community which had always betrayed him. Always.

Somehow, he was able to make me realize that all of us have an egotistical and selfish side to our nature which must be held tame. This is what I saw happening in front of my eyes at Kingston school for Inclusive education. The generous side to humanity was brought to the exterior and the other was held dormant.