Chapter 4 – The Weight of Knowledge

There were days when his classmates' laughter at his worn-out shoes hurt more than hunger. Other times, the heavy silence of the room seemed to remind him of all he lacked. But even so, Salimo kept the flame burning. Between the laughter of those who mocked his worn-out shoes and the stern looks of teachers who demanded more than he could give, Salimo was not easily intimidated.

With each question answered, he rose a little higher. He knew that each correct answer was like a stone placed on the bridge that would take him beyond the neighborhood. And slowly, that bridge began to take shape within him.

One day, the teacher asked each student to write down what they wanted to be in the future. Some wrote "doctor," others "police officer," and still others "teacher." Salimo took his time. He looked at the blank sheet of paper and simply wrote: "I want to be someone who doesn't give up."“

The teacher read and put the paper away, moved. To her, it wasn't just a sentence; it was a silent commitment from a boy who, even surrounded by limits, already showed greatness.

Deep down, I was beginning to realize: knowledge could be the first key to escaping invisibility. School might be simple, the backpack light, but each word learned carried the weight of the future—capable of transforming letters into wings.

You Can: Knowledge may be simple, but it has the power to give you wings.