Write An Essay About Punam Walia's Life

Late one afternoon, as a result of brain hemorrhaging, my grandmother passed away, and in an instant, several lives were changed forever, my mother’s included. As she wept for days, feeling as if the world had come to its end, greater things were at work. Little did she know, that her mother’s passing would motivate her to overachieve, feel a tremendous sense of responsibility for her siblings, have resilience, and live a deeply felt life filled with meaningful interactions, having experienced the fragility of life.
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Punam Walia was born on the 19th of November, 1970 but due to the use of physical birth records at the time and insufficient paper, her birth date was officially recorded to be the 26th of November. Born in a middle class family, Walia’s life had humble beginnings. Her mother adopted a firm but fair approach which provided discipline, whereas her father was always supportive and kind, motivating Walia to give her best shot at everything she did. He would always say, “No matter what happens, no matter how far you seem to be away from where you want to be, never stop believing that you will somehow make it.” This encouraged her to excel in sport and studies alike, and be determined in achieving her goals. …show more content…
Due to the small age gap, Walia was engaged in fierce competition with her sister in all aspects of education and sport, and was often compared to her by relatives and friends. Over time this drove a wedge between the two, whose relationship had been at the mercy of their intense rivalry. Her brother however, was considered to be the ‘baby’ of the family and was treated as such throughout his life, receiving preferential treatment and constant favour. Despite this, Walia did not feel disadvantaged and maintained an intimate relationship with her baby