It makes me happy that you are coming back to the second chapter of my story and adventure in the corporate world. If you haven’t read the first chapter, here is a quick link: Chapter 1: The Weight of Arrival

Chapter 2: Roots of Resilience

Having struggled with obesity early in life, and growing up as the firstborn of a family that embodied resilience, she had to prove herself academically and professionally – away from the beauty standards the society around her valued so much. Her idea of success was shaped by the enduring strength of her grandfather’s character and the vivid stories he shared. He was a man who rose like a phoenix after facing the atrocity of war and finally deciding to flee to a safer land, leaving everything behind but his wife and two sons.

The lessons he learned and the days and nights of hard work he had to endure to build his legacy as one of the most successful businessmen in the Middle East, shaped his determination to invest in the education of his children and grandchildren. She was his first grandchild, the dearest to his heart—always either giggling on his lap or sitting beside him at the kitchen table, where he expressed his love by filling her plate the moment it began to empty.

After graduating from nursery school, he took her to the city’s most prestigious schools to ensure she received the finest education from the very beginning. At the time, the best girls’ school was one founded by the Catholic Church, with admissions overseen by a group of strict, highly selective nuns. He didn’t care that the school’s religion was different from his own. His only priority was for his granddaughter to grow into a strong, disciplined and sophisticated woman.

Sitting across from him on the other side of the large mahogany desk, the principal spoke in a cold voice devoid of empathy. “I regret to inform you that your granddaughter doesn’t meet the school’s admission criteria, and we must decline your application.” The expression on her face made it clear to him that she was resolute. Nothing he said could alter her decision.  

As a stubborn, determined man at the peak of his financial success, he resolved to build an entirely new school. The memory of when he took her to the construction site is vividly carved in her mind. His eyes gleamed as he pointed to what was then just piles of gravel and concrete, colourfully painting a picture of how the school would look in a few years.

“A big gymnasium with an indoor pool here. Outside I’ll build a large open-space area next to where buses will park. And right in the centre, there will be a large glass-ceiling schoolyard where you’ll play and eat your sandwich with your friends!”

His dream came true. The school flourished into one of the city’s best private schools, attracting students from across the Middle East. It was renowned as the ultimate institution for mastering the English language, where students emerged not only fluent but highly skilled compared to their peers.

The education she received set her apart in her home country, especially after she obtained a master’s degree in linguistics abroad. Doors to positions at international agencies and foreign embassies opened easily for her, and her career choices were abundant. Her grandfather and parents brimmed with pride, their faces glowing whenever the chance arose to share her remarkable achievements.

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Chapter 3: Her Success Backfires… comes next

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