Today young girls might think they need superpowers and a flashy costume to change the world. But what about the quiet heroines no-one ever mentions? My mum is one such a heroine whose life speaks volumes.
People often said I looked like my mum, but the resemblance ends there. Growing up in hardship, she faced many challenges that would have broken many, yet her spirit and warm heart transformed all these obstacles into opportunities. Mum was as tough as nails and believed no matter how hard you fall; it is about standing up after you had your moment of cry. She taught me to stand up for any injustice in the world, and that respect is earned. She always had a story ready for anyone who endured pain in their own lives, but her life story showed me that with determination, education, hard work and compassion, anything is possible.
Born in the depression years after the end of WW2, families just trying to survive. At this time, knitting was part of the curriculum, and mum’s family couldn’t afford to buy needles. But she believed where there was a will, there was a way. Undeterred, she picked up two rusted nails from the ground when she was walking back home and she decided to use them.

While her classmates mocked her, her teacher saw her resolve, so gifted her wool for the knitting project. With those rusted nails, she knitted the small teddy bear as was required. This little bear became a symbol of her belief that creativity and hard work could turn the ordinary into something extraordinary. My mum always taught us to rise up despite negativity, taunts, and sneers amongst us. We realised the lesson within the story wasn’t about knitting; it was about proving that limitations are only as real as we allow them to be.

One of her core beliefs that she taught was that the pen is mightier than the sword, seeing knowledge as the key to unlocking your own potential. I saw her planning everything she did meticulously, working tirelessly and helping us to meet our goals, and this made me believe that with effort, anyone could become anything they dreamed of. When I got a poor mark at school, she shared her mantra, “diamonds are formed when coal is put under pressure.” I realised that every hardship my mum faced and endured—poverty, ridicule, pain—shaped her into a gem of strength and empathy. So I follow suit to make her proud.

For girls today, I think her story is a reminder that adversity doesn’t define us—but our response to it does. My mother inspired me to embrace education for empowerment, to plan and persevere toward my goals, and to keep on believing in our limitless potential. She used to ask me “ Do you really believe the sky’s the limit?”

Her story in her own eyes might have been ordinary, but it is still extraordinary in mine. For every girl today, who is dreaming big, and wants to make a difference, my mum’s life whispers back: “You are enough, and with hard work and heart, you can change the world.”

-Helen Barnard
Volunteer
Girl Museum, Inc.