This essay was written by Pizwak, a girl in Class 9 at Pearl Valley Public School in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). It was shared with Quest for Education (now Quest for Education Foundation) by our partner, the Kashmir Education Foundation (KEF). The date it was written is not recorded. We reproduce it in Pizwak’s own words.
In Pizwak’s words
As I enter the gates of my school, and as I look around, I recall my experiences at this school and pleasant memories float through my mind from when I entered these gates for the first time.
Looking at the huge building of Pearl Valley Public School, I always think who would have imagined such a beautiful building standing in the midst of a heavenly valley, surrounded by trees and mountains, and beautiful flowers, which stretch as far as the eye can see? But someone did imagine it. Pearl Valley Public School was established on August 14th 1996 by General Rahim Khan, the Chairperson of Kashmir Education Foundation. The sole reason was to provide quality education to the children of the valley, so that they could make something of themselves and compete with the rest of the world.
The memories of my first day at school are still locked away in a special corner of my brain. I remember I clutched my Mum’s clothes and wouldn’t let go because I thought that school was one of the worst things on earth, but now I feel that I was silly to have thought such things about my school, which really is a heaven on earth. At first, the classroom and all the unfamiliar faces were scary to me but I soon found out there was something different about this school. It was not like the other schools, where students were treated badly and beaten with canes. The first few days, I was very shy and nervous, but the caring nature of my teachers soon made me forgot all my fears. My urge to cry vanished and I felt like I never wanted to go home. Talking to others, making friends and learning new things, was really fun.
I often think about all this school has given me, which no other school would have been able to provide. My teachers inspired me, helped shape made my character and gave me the confidence to shape the world. One of my treasured memories is when I was selected to host our annual day. The praise of the Chief Guest still echoes in my mind, and has played a big role in building my confidence.
Pearl Valley Public School holds every possible facility one can dream of. Other than the general facilities, it is also equipped with modern computers, TV Room, Mathematics Resource Room, and a library. From when I first started, the school has constantly been going through changes. Instead of a single building, there are now three beautiful buildings. The school has also started participating in extracurricular activities, both indoors and outdoors.
As I sit here, thinking about the past, I realize how quickly time has passed. Over all these years, each moment has been special for me. As far as this school is concerned, I have been like a plant, and my school has acted as its roots and stem. It has provided me with everything I needed to grow, nurtured me with knowledge and helped me to anchor myself firmly into the soil in such a way that the howling winds of difficulties will never be able to carry me away.
Confidence, not just classrooms
Pizwak’s essay is about a shy first day becoming the confidence to stand up and host her school’s annual day. Families in the valley choose to send their daughters to school, and KEF’s teachers help them grow. Read more about Pearl Valley Public School.
Thank you to Pizwak for sharing her story. To help more girls and boys in rural Pakistan and AJK go to school, please make a donation.