Different World

Part 3 : Rejected from School Again

The elementary school Glory attended didn't offer a secondary school, so her parents had to search for a new school once again. By now, Glory had completed her therapy and made significant progress, catching up with kids her age. While she may not have developed exactly the same way as other children, she had her own special strengths. Glory's talent with numbers and mathematics was far beyond that of her peers. Though she could now speak fluently, she still faced challenges with socializing, making friends, and holding conversations.

Even though six years have passed, finding a regular school that is willing to accept children with special needs is still difficult even though these children have shown extraordinary progress. They can answer questions correctly, both orally and in writing, especially if the area being asked really suits their enthusiasm.

"Glory, what subjects do you like?" asked the principal.

"Mathematics" she answered without looking at the person who has asking.

"Wow, periodic table!" she said again when he saw the display on the wall and distracted.

"How do you know this is called a periodic table?" asked the principal again.

"Yeah, you know, this is Oxygen, Nitrogen, Helium, ...." said Glory, mentioning the name of the chemical compound, its abbreviation, category, and even the number of atoms."

After several hours of screening sessions, questions, answers, and interviews, the school finally called Glory's parents with their decision:

"Glory is a bright and extraordinary child. We're very impressed with her abilities, especially how she's already grasped chemistry concepts while still in elementary school. However, our school isn't equipped with the experienced staff needed to support a child like Glory. So, with a heavy heart, we must say that we cannot accept her at this school."

This was the second time Glory's parents faced rejection while searching for a school, and unfortunately, it wouldn't be the last. Several other schools turned her down for the same reason—they weren't equipped with staff experienced enough to support a child like Glory. The irony was that these were schools that claimed to prioritize teaching faith in God and love for others. It's disheartening to see so many schools preach these values in theory but struggle to apply them in real life.

Once again, God didn't abandon them in their time of need. While challenges arise with God's permission, He also provides a way for us to overcome them. Glory's parents visited a third school, and this one felt different. Unlike the previous schools, this one was truly universal—welcoming and respecting all kinds of differences, whether in beliefs, backgrounds, or skin colour.

The teachers at this school came from all over—Singapore, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The principal didn't ask many questions. After interviewing Glory, he simply said:

"Our school does accept a limited number of children with special needs. Glory is welcome to attend here. In each class, which has an average of sixteen children, we usually have one or two with special needs. You don't need to worry—we teach all our students to be kind and to support their friends, especially those who may need extra help. We can assure you that we've never had any cases of bullying."

Glory's parents felt a huge sense of relief hearing the principal's explanation, especially after facing multiple rejections from other schools. Her mother had been particularly anxious, fearing that Glory might face bullying at a new school—something she might not be able to handle. But now, those worries were beginning to ease.

After six years of hard work at her previous school, combined with intensive therapy that cost a lot of money, the rejections hit Glory's parents hard. It felt like the world was saying, "All that therapy was pointless; she's still a special child who will never be like the others." It was as if all their efforts had been for nothing. But they never imagined that this time, help would come from someone else—a school they hadn't considered, and a stranger they didn't know at all. God is truly good, providing a way out through people of different beliefs, races, ethnicities, and even languages.

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