Four years ago, my closest friend Ralitsa asked me to accompany her to a competition for participation in the Young Roma Teachers project. At that time I was at the end of my maternity leave with my second son and I was about to return to work as a hygienist in one of the companies of Kozloduy NPP. I went for support. I remember that the weather was sunny and everything was happening with ease, but little did I know that this would be the day that would set the future on course to fulfilling my childhood dream of being a teacher.
I probably didn’t expect the turn of events that followed because I was now 28 years old and had two children. I married early and gave birth to my eldest son at the age of 17. I went to school pregnant but managed to finish my secondary education. The family I married into are modern people and had no problem with me continuing my education. They helped me and were proud of me. We all know how the Roma community can be conservative and limit women in their professional development. I am glad that this is not the case in our household. But my childhood dream of following remained on the back burner because I had to take care of my son. The two of us grew up together. Ten years later, my second boy was born.
My life seemed to be mapped out around my family and work, but fate had decided to give me a chance for a fulfilling career.
On the day of the competition for “Young Roma Teachers” I met a wonderful person for me – Spaska Mihaylova from “Nov pat” Association. She and Ralitsa persuaded me to join and I spontaneously decided to apply. I will never forget the day when Spaska told me that I was selected. I cried with joy and hurried to call Ralitza. It turned out that she was not approved to participate in the project. I was sad, but in our conversation Ralitsa said words that I will always remember: “Don’t cry Paola, you are chosen! As long as it’s you, it’s the same as me!”
Such great people and selfless friends are hard to find nowadays. I am happy that her nobility was rewarded and now she is also a student of engineering. I am starting my fourth year in “Preschool Pedagogy with a Foreign Language” at the Veliko Tarnovo University branch in Vratsa and will dedicate my graduation to Ralitsa. She gave me courage and opened a door in front of me, behind which people were waiting for me with outstretched hands. Soon after, I received a call from the director of the “Radost” kindergarten in Glogone – Iveta Ilieva, who offered me a job as a teacher’s assistant. I accepted with great pleasure, and after a year I became an assistant teacher. I am still in this post now.
The teaching profession is a vocation and a responsibility for which it is most important to love children and to be very patient. It is a real happiness for me to be among the children and watch them grow and develop. They are so genuine and give me faith that life can be much better. The events surrounding my entry into university prove that when a person wishes to develop themselves in the service of others there will always be kind people with big hearts to help them along the way. Ralitsa found the direction, Spaska Mihaylova believed in me, and the director Iveta Ilieva trusted me and gave me the opportunity to experience the kindergarten environment and gain experience as an assistant teacher. My colleagues Miglena Dionisieva and Maya Vassileva are by my side and are my inspiration and an example of good educators. Thanks to them, the support of my wonderful family and the Trust for Social Alternative Foundation, I will become a full-fledged teacher next year.
I chose the field of education not only because I love children, but also because I believe I will be useful for their personal growth. Even though I have a family, and I am 32 years old now, I decided to continue to develop myself, and I want this to be my message to all people, especially from the Roma community – a person is only as big as their dreams. All doors open to those who want to do more. My success is to be an example of that.