Lakyntiew Syiemlieh is a 50-year-old grandmother who is a native of the village Umsning Lumumpih, located in the Ri Bhoi district of the north-eastern state of Meghalaya in India. She is blessed with four children and two grandchildren.
However, Lakyntiew is an epitome of determination and perseverance and is the quintessential example of the fact that all of us are students for life.
Read on to know more about her extraordinary story.
Decades back in 1988, Lakyntiew had dropped out of the Laitumkhrah Presbyterian School because she found the subject of mathematics too difficult to handle.
“I stopped going to school because mathematics was too difficult for me to understand. I was offered a job to teach pre-schoolers in 2008 and that was the beginning of my love for re-learning.”
She then got married at the ripe age of 21 and, subsequently, had kids. Unfortunately, her marriage was not successful and she took up the job of a teacher for Khasi, the local language in Meghalaya, to support her family.
Despite being a single mother and facing many adversities in her life, she never gave up on her love for education. Ensuring that her age would never be a deterrent, she enrolled as a student a few years back at the NIOS Umsning, a night school. After clearing her Grade X exams, she went on to pass her Grade XI examination from the Balawan College as a non-regular student.
“To be honest, we were surprised. Sometimes, we have 30-year-olds, who have just gotten married, attending classes,” said Father Laurence, Principal, Balawan College. “But a 50-year-old, and with her level of enthusiasm and dedication, is just rare.”
And recently, she appeared for her exams for Class XII, clearing them successfully.
“My children are so thrilled that they started shouting, hugging and kissing me when the results were declared yesterday. In fact, it was the happiest day of my life,” she said enthusiastically, adding how her family supported her through her endeavors.
However, looks like there is no stopping Lakyntiew – the best is yet to come for her!
She now plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in her native language, Khasi.
“I understand the importance of education — without it we are simply nothing,” she says! And we couldn’t agree more.
Isn’t this story inspiring? Do let us know your views in the comments section below!
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