Shahin Sheikh TP in India
Shella A. Pabon TP in the Philippines
My mom, whose mother tongue is Hindi, never knew English. Despite this, she made an incredible effort to learn how to speak English. She picked up phrases from our teachers, like “remove your shoes and enter,” and would lovingly repeat them at home. Although she dropped out of college to become the remarkable mother that she is, she made sure we received the best education possible. Her unwavering dedication and sacrifice ensured that all four of her children became graduates. Now, my one-year-old daughter is learning “A for Aluminum” and “B for Boron” instead of the usual “A for Apple” and “B for Ball,” a testament to the enduring legacy of my mom’s determination.
Hi, my name is Shella Pabon, one of the TOPS Managers here in TP Philippines, and I am here to share my motherhood and TP journey. I am the oldest of seven siblings, raised in a humble household. While we may not have had financial abundance, my mother instilled in us the im - portance of education, kindness, responsibility, and being good individ- uals. Because of this, I vowed that when I eventually become a mother, I will share the same values with my children and strive to ensure they have opportunities that I didn’t have during my own upbringing. Let’s fast forward to 2005. My employment at TP is as old as my daughter, therefore I refer to her as a “TP Baby.” I was hired by TP in March 2005, and I became pregnant that same year. I have taught her the importance of education and how it shapes a person’s destiny since she was a little child. I always remind her that she should never settle for anything less than her best effort. I also taught her to strive, have patience and de - termination in everything that she does to be successful, with my own success as an example. With my background and personal experiences, I believe that being a parent is crucial for a child’s development. Yes, I am my daughter’s friend, but I always emphasize that I am a mother first, before anything else. This means I have the duty to nurture, guide, and help her grow into a kind and responsible person. Although she is an only child, she is not in- dulged, as I explained to her that anything that is spoiled becomes rotten. I often tell her that I was able to pay for her college because of TP. From elementary school through senior high school, I was able to send her to respectable institutions, and she finished with academic honors. She is a first-year college student pursuing a nursing degree at the moment. Apart from education, my husband and I also vowed to give our daugh- ter the opportunity to travel and experience other cultures while we still have the time and resources to do so. We believe that this is an- other great source of learning and development. Every summer break,
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FOSTERING EMPOWERMENT
LETTERS TO MOTHERS
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