A small treasure in my grandmother’s papers that reminded me of privilege

Assalamu alaikum - I was going through my grandmother’s old writing box the other day and found a stack of yellowed papers and newspapers tied with thread. There were dog-eared notebooks and faded clippings, all about education in Kenya from different decades. Each piece had its own quiet urgency and felt like a window into another time. One profile stopped me in my tracks. My grandmother had written about a young girl who climbed up through debate and public speaking. Not because she came from money, but because she learned to use her voice long before she had many comforts. My grandmother described how that talent opened doors: invitations into larger rooms, into well-kept halls with polished floors and cushioned chairs-places the girl had only pictured while sitting on a wooden stool in a tiny home in the slum. In an interview the girl laughed and said, “A study table was once a luxury.” That simple line carried years of quiet effort. It made me think about how, today, someone might order a desk online without a second thought and never realize what it used to mean to have a proper place to study. The story was a reminder that success isn’t always set by where you begin, but often by who pays attention when you finally speak and how far your voice is allowed to travel once it’s heard. May Allah grant ease to those who strive, and help us notice and uplift talented people regardless of their start.