Living in poverty is always hard but sometimes, it is the simplicity that counts

Chosen Topic:

A Form of Life

Consolation Prize - A17

M.F., a ‘N’ level student-inmate from Institution TM1

Sitting abreast with the others, eating a plate of white rice with a pair of marinated chick and black pepper gravy at the side. Eating together with my brothers in the cell. This is one of the prevalent things we did daily before putting out the plates through the ledge.

To stand tall and alone in these notorious society is in evitable. But there is always an inner voice saying that you are different. Everyone wants to be successful in life. But a picture of a tree do tell myriad stories. The tree, which stand alone in the sharp cold tingling temperatures, on a riverbed with a vast environment. That is how I see someone successful in life. The tree though not tall, stand firmly on the ground without knowing what it might go through in its life.

Not far from the tree, a bevy of tall, straight coniferous trees stand rigidly looking down over the frail lonely tree. These are the people that look down on you when you are at your downfall, these are the people that disparage you when you are at your lowest end. But still, the tree blossomed beautifully with greeneries and its branches arching out for the birds to roost. A home to thousands of living creatures including the tiny bacteria that live on the tree barks. The roots is where hundreds of fishes are playing and hiding against vicious predators.

And these represent someone who is determine by himself and never give up in life. He works hard so that others can follow his perseverance and his aura make others happy around him.

But lets’ not forget another hurdles that is awaiting and that is the hills that never move, blocking a clear path for the windy breeze to pass through for the tree. And for that sometimes, we need to stop back a little and think. Things happen for a reason. Things that cannot be avoid are meant to be there. With enough patience, we can overcome these obstacles.

Different people have different adversities. Living in poverty is always hard but sometimes, it is the simplicity that counts. We need to change our lifestyle in order to live. As we reach a stage when we are at a comfortable zone, we need to be humble and train down our egoism.

Covering the whole scenery, is the hump of colossal mountains. In the picture, it look serene with vast wide spread of nature. It shows someone’s achievement in life, to be the tallest and enormous in height. Forlornly, the lonely tree can only dream of it. To be high up in the mountain is impossible. “But did the tree give up?” No, instead, it is swaying and it branches elegantly everyday. Everything changed once the sun climbed high above it zenith. This gives hope to the tree with rays of sunlight to provide energy.

In fact, we do resemble the tree at a point. With determination and persistent in life, we can overcome all odds. We don’t fall when we are on the correct path. Our past life is the strength to our future. Our hopes are high and we walk with our strength to guide us.

But for now, the light is switched off once again. We need to sleep and have a dream to catch on. To change our past for a better future. To be the best in our family is a form of life.