How education helped me rewrite my life | Ashweetha Shetty

Summary

This inspiring story follows a young girl from rural India who defies societal expectations to find her voice and purpose. Growing up in a conservative family, she faced limitations due to her gender and background. However, with determination and the inspiration of Helen Keller, she pursued education, overcoming significant challenges. Eventually, she founded the Bodhi Tree Foundation, providing rural youth with opportunities to break free from societal constraints. Through personal perseverance and mentorship, she helps others realize their potential, challenging the notion that rural girls are a burden, and showing that everyone has a valuable contribution to make.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker recalls a transformative childhood memory, where she helped her mother, a bidi roller, write her name for the first time.
• 😀 Growing up in rural India, the speaker was conditioned to believe that girls are seen as a liability, not as individuals with potential.
• 😀 Despite societal expectations, the speaker dreamed of a better life and fought to pursue education, including going to college against family pressure.
• 😀 The autobiography of Helen Keller became a major source of inspiration for the speaker, driving her to challenge the limited views placed on her life.
• 😀 The speaker faced numerous challenges, including lack of access to technology, and had to find unconventional ways to apply for a fellowship program.
• 😀 The fellowship program in Delhi was a turning point for the speaker, where she was exposed to new opportunities, but also faced prejudice for being from a rural background.
• 😀 Through her fellowship experience, the speaker learned that rural voices are often marginalized, yet the majority of India's population is rural.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of being of use and finding value in oneself, and how education is a critical path to breaking free from societal constraints.
• 😀 After completing the fellowship, the speaker returned to her village to establish the Bodhi Tree Foundation, providing rural youth with education and opportunities.
• 😀 The speaker's foundation has successfully helped young people like Kaviarasi, Anitha, and Padma, who have overcome challenges to pursue higher education and careers.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on how finding her own voice and purpose has not only transformed her life but also impacted others, helping them break free from limiting expectations.
• 😀 Ultimately, the speaker encourages others to discover where they feel useful to the world, as this is where they will find their voice, self-worth, and freedom.

Q & A

What is the significance of the speaker's mother using thumbprints instead of a signature?

The speaker’s mother using thumbprints instead of a signature highlights her lack of formal education and the challenging realities faced by uneducated women in rural India. It also symbolizes the mother's reliance on manual labor and the limitations placed on her due to her socio-economic background.

Why did the speaker feel the need to teach her mother to write her name?

The speaker wanted to empower her mother, who had never learned to write, as a way to make her feel valued and capable. This moment was a turning point for the speaker, as it sparked the realization that she could be of use in the world, despite societal expectations of women like her.

How did the speaker's mother react to learning to write her name?

The speaker's mother was initially reluctant, smiling innocently and saying no. However, after some persistence from the speaker, she managed to write her name, her hands trembling with pride. This moment was deeply emotional for both, marking a significant breakthrough in the speaker's perception of her mother's worth.

How does the speaker’s background shape her understanding of her worth?

Growing up as a poor rural girl in India, the speaker was conditioned to believe she had no value beyond traditional gender roles, such as cooking, cleaning, and raising children. This mindset made her feel worthless, yet her desire for education and self-improvement eventually led her to realize her worth and purpose.

Why did the speaker admire Helen Keller?

The speaker admired Helen Keller for her indomitable spirit and her ability to overcome significant obstacles. Keller became an inspiration for the speaker’s own journey, especially in terms of pursuing education despite the barriers set by her family and society.

What challenges did the speaker face while applying to a fellowship program in Delhi?

The speaker faced multiple challenges while applying, including not having access to computers and needing to borrow a junior's cell phone to fill out the application. She also had to hide the phone under her shawl to avoid being seen with it, as women in her village were not allowed to use cell phones.

What impact did the fellowship program have on the speaker's life?

The fellowship program allowed the speaker to step out of her village for the first time and study in Delhi. It provided her with a transformative experience, expanding her horizons and solidifying her belief in her own potential. It also helped her realize that people from rural backgrounds, like her, could contribute valuable perspectives.

How did the speaker feel when she was called a 'Coconut Girl' by a fellow in the fellowship program?

The speaker felt alienated and judged by her peers when she was called a 'Coconut Girl' due to her rural background and the use of coconut oil in her hair. This comment highlighted the social divide between her and the more urban fellows in the program, further deepening her sense of being an outsider.

What is the Bodhi Tree Foundation, and what does it aim to achieve?

The Bodhi Tree Foundation was founded by the speaker to support rural youth by providing them with education, life skills, and opportunities. The foundation works closely with young people in rural communities to help them break the cycle of poverty and improve their lives through education and personal development.

Can you provide examples of success stories from the Bodhi Tree Foundation?

Yes, there are several success stories, such as Kaviarasi, who received guidance from the foundation and eventually studied at Ashoka University in Delhi. She returned to Bodhi Tree as a trainer, helping other youth. Another success story is Anitha, who received a scholarship to a prestigious university with the foundation's support.