How Far Can One Get

We have to face a lot of challenges and difficulties throughout our life. However, the most important is to stick to our goal, no matter what, and do our best to achieve what we truly want.

This story dates back to my childhood. I still remember the moment when we entered our new home. I don't know how old I was but I can clearly recall that I thought, we might have a better life here. My stepfather would take care of us, we would live together in happiness, we wouldn't be cold during the night...

As years went by, I really got everything I ever needed. One of my most precious memories is when my stepfather picked me up at school one autumn afternoon. He made me sit on his bike and we rode home. I was very happy, I was laughing the whole time and I fell asleep that night with a smile on my face. I can't explain what was so special about that afternoon but I can still remember that feeling.

When I lost him, his absence left a huge void. I tried to find joy in simple things, like standing outside in the evening, enjoying the snowfall and staring upwards. Simply wonderful. Or falling into the snow without being afraid that your clothes would get wet, because you're a child. Then my mother would yell for the wet clothes but in fact, she wasn’t angry. We preserve these moments as gentle memories even when we’ve grown up. Especially if you become an orphan in the meantime, as not everyone is so lucky to be raised by their parents.

Moving in with an almost completely unknown sister as an orphan, going to new school, adapting to new rules... It was difficult. All beginnings (or new beginnings) are difficult.  But I could handle it, I took up the gauntlet that life threw me. I performed well at school, I settled in as much as I could, because, evidently, you can encounter hostility in a school with mostly Roma students, too. The summer when I lost my mother, I also had a serious eye injury. Well, life hadn't been good to me. It put more burden on my shoulder than I felt I was able to bear. My classmates were bullying me because of my eye, they called me 'Eye', 'Blinkin' and 'One-Eye'. I felt so much of an outsider that I hadn't participated in any afterschool programs till sixth grade.I thought high school would be different...

It happened to me way too often that my fellow students were standing nearby booing me – not because I stink, simply because I am a Gypsy. Can you imagine, dear reader, how that felt? Has something similar ever happened to you? Sometimes they nudged each other to me so that they could say things like: "Ugh, you touched her! You’re disgusting!" We were teenagers, we all came from somewhere, and I came from a poorer family. But I had everything I needed and I can't be grateful enough. I graduated from high school, got a driver's license and a language certificate.

I feel that I've achieved something. One shall always seek something more, something better and I wanted a better life. I dared to dream and act: I got to university, currently, I'm a fourth-year teaching student and one of the presidents of Roma Special College in Eger. And there is still so much to dream of.. A nice home, a good husband, a good life... I am grateful for my life and my past because that made me the person I am today.

The blog entry was written by Gabriella Farkas at Independent Theatre's Roma Heroes workshop.