Chairperson's Story - My Little White Shoes

My name is Christine. I was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I have an elder sister and 3 younger brothers. My father is a businessman and my mother is a homemaker. When I was 2 years old, my father went bankrupt and we had to run away from creditors. We hid in a lot of small villages around Malaysia.

When I was 7 years old, we moved to a small village in Sungai Petani, Kedah where I started my primary school. I remembered my father did not earn much then. We stayed in a rented house and hardly bought new clothes or shoes. Neighbours donated most of our clothes and shoes. I was hoping I could get a pair of new white shoes for school. So, I applied for the school’s poor student scheme, which gave the two poorest students in class a new set of uniform and a pair of shoes. I was lucky I got a new pair of shoes when I was in primary 3.

That day, I brought back the new shoes to show my mother, hoping that she would be happy as she did not need to buy me a new pair of shoes and therefore able to save money for my brother’s school fees. But I was wrong. She was upset that I applied for the poor student scheme. She shared with me the notion that a lot of people were poorer than us, many of them could not even pay for their school fees and had to wear their torn shoes and uniform for a few years. I told her that my shoes had holes too, but she said that she would sew the shoes for me and that would last me for another year. She wanted me to remember that in this world many people were dying of hunger and cold, many others were suffering from illness too. She wanted me to appreciate what I have and learn to share. She told me to return the pair of shoes to the school and asked the headmaster to give them to another poor student who deserved it. I did what she said the next day. The headmaster was very surprised and very touched. He tapped on my shoulder and said, “Your mother is the most kind hearted lady I have ever seen. Her action was very noble”. From then on, I understand that we do not need to be rich to share. Sharing comes from the HEART.

I know I will never be like Mother Theresa, giving her whole life to the poor, or Princess Diana, who has the power to change so many people’s lives. I just want to share my love in the smallest way with the unfortunate people that I meet in my life, and wish I could be the angel in their hearts.