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Hope Over Adversity Rumana Monsur Tom Smith was pleased to introduce his friend and fellow Rotarian Rumana Monsur who has a fascinating story of hope over adversity to tell. She was rendered blind in a violent encounter when her husband attempted to kill her.Those fifteen minutes of trauma changed her life forever. How she took on the physical and emotional challenges form her story. Rumana took on the struggle by attending UBC to graduate with a law degree in 2017 and is now working in a legal career. She is also in demand from groups and individuals to provide lessons on facing life's obstacles. Rumana began her presentation by emphasizing that uncertainty is a feature in all of our lives whether it's a plane crash, an economic collapse, a health crisis or a pandemic. We just don't know what life has in store for us but she urged that we accept and look forward to the uncertainty. She then began with her story when in 2011, 4 days before her 32nd birthday, she was abruptly denied the ability to see the sunshine or her daughter's face ever again. Recognizing that the only control she had was her own reaction and from this she learned and relayed her three major life lessons: The Power of Hope Like the North Star that guides the mariners of old, maintaining hope can keep us moving forward. Feeling the responsibility to her daughter and elder parents it was hope kept her going in spite of the bleak future that included four surgeries. She was left with two options: withdraw into her wounds or move forward. A Positive Attitude Attitude is everything! The glass is half full or half empty; it depends on how you view it. Whether a person is confined to a wheelchair, suffers health issues or loses his or her eyesight different people approach life's challenges differently. You can be an optimist or a pessimist-it is your choice. Asking for Help In her situation she received and continues to receive the support of family and friends but she has had to also place her trust in others as well. Through some help she managed to attend UBC on scholarship. Once there had to depend on others to read documents and research papers that are not easily accessible in braille. Trust in others and avoiding false pride in asking for help is often the difference between success and continued frustration. Rumana summarized the experiences that taught her to; let her fears be conquered, never give up hope and recognize that life is full of possibilities. Murray Lott thanked her for the riveting talk that was professionally delivered as well as compelling. As a fellow lawyer Murray could not imagine how she managed the enormous challenges she had to conquer in order to graduate in the demanding field of law. He also urged her to return so that our club's lawyer jokes would be kept to a minimum. ATTENDANCE 47 |
