Have your childhood toys played a major role in your transformations? I haven’t met anyone....
RETROSPECTION
Have your childhood toys played a major role in your transformations? I haven’t met anyone who thinks this way; for most, toys are just tools to keep kids entertained and have nothing do with their social and emotional development. Therefore, I decided to share my journey.
Hannah Montana, ah! The famous young girl who captivated millions of teenagers around the globe. I was not familiar with her until my uncle brought me a Hannah Montana doll from the States. I was 12, but like all other children pretending to be older and wiser, I complained, “I didn’t want a doll! I’ve grown up!”
The very next day, I learned from my uncle how popular she was. He told me stories about little girls turning up at her concerts in large numbers. From that day onwards, I became an FBI agent, taking out all the information I could via internet. Her famous TV show DVDs still sit on the top of my cupboard to date. From binge watching her shows to listening to her songs, I passed a year like that. Let me be very honest and tell you that I had never been an A grade student in my junior classes. English is not my native language, therefore I struggled. My memory being crystal clear, I remember once I scored below average, which really humiliated me. That is where the doll played its part.
Being truly inspired by her songs and fame, the very next year I bought a dark green diary and named it ‘Lyrics.’ At the age of 13, I started writing my own songs. The doll had a small button on her belly; you pressed it and a Hannah Montana song was played. Before writing, I pushed the button and heard her singing which was a huge motivator for me. Somehow writing songs greatly improved my vocabulary. My teachers and my parents witnessed a difference in my grade. Most of all I was positive and awestruck.
I got better at English Language and started reading books from various genres. I was reading about art, feminism, history, morals, fiction and inspiring biographies. From classics to plays, I explored the world of literature. With every book I read, I learned something new and valuable.
Currently, I am studying English Literature as an A-Level subject. It would not have been possible without those three diaries I filled writing songs. Most importantly, I owe to that one doll that still sits before me on the corner of my desk.
We all know the universal fact – they make toys for children to play. I decided to interpret it differently.
