The Boy Who Refused to Quit

In the crowded streets of Baghdad, there lived a young boy named Zayan. His dreams were different from most of the children in his neighborhood. While others were happy with small jobs or just getting by, Zayan had one clear goal: he wanted to become an engineer.

The people around him didn’t believe in big dreams. Zayan came from a poor family. His father had died when he was very young, and his mother worked hard as a cleaner to take care of him.

"Zayan," she would say, "you can be anything you want. But you must work hard and never give up."

Most people didn’t think like her. Zayan’s cousins and neighbors often laughed at him.

"An engineer? That’s not for someone like you," his cousin said. "Your mother cleans houses, and your father was a laborer. You should find a job, not chase dreams."

At school, other kids teased him too.

"Why study so much? You’ll end up like us anyway," they would say.

Zayan felt hurt, but he didn’t stop. He knew deep inside that he was meant for more.

Zayan studied every day. He had old books and little light, but he didn’t give up. When the electricity went out, he used candles. When he didn’t understand something, he asked questions. He spent hours in the library, reading every book he could find.

One night, as he worked on a hard math problem, his friend Hassan called out from the street:

"Zayan! Come play with us. Why waste time? You’ll never be an engineer."

Zayan looked out the window, smiled, and said:

"One day, you’ll see."

His life was full of struggles. His mother was always tired. They didn’t have enough money for new clothes or good food. But Zayan kept going. His dream was stronger than the pain.

High school was harder. The subjects were tough, and he had to work part-time to support his mother. He cleaned shops, carried bags in the market, and gave tuition to younger kids. Every rupee he earned went to saving for university.

He also applied for scholarships. Most students didn’t believe he would get one. But Zayan didn’t care about what others said. He believed in hard work, not luck.

Then, one day, everything changed.

He got a letter in the mail. It said he had won a full scholarship to study civil engineering at a top university in Baghdad.

His eyes filled with tears. He had done it. The boy who everyone laughed at was now going to be an engineer.

But life at university wasn’t easy either. Many students were rich. They had laptops, expensive books, and private tutors. Zayan had none of these. But he had one thing more powerful: his will.

He studied harder than ever. He sat in the front row, took notes, and asked questions. He visited his professors during office hours. Slowly, he became one of the top students in his class.

After years of hard work, Zayan graduated with honors. He got a job at a well-known construction company. Soon, he was helping build bridges and roads across Baghdad.

People in his neighborhood, who once made fun of him, now looked up to him. Zayan didn’t forget his roots. He went back and told young boys and girls that they could achieve anything with hard work and hope.

His story spread across the city. A poor boy, raised in tough streets, who fought against doubt, poverty, and bad company — and still made it.

Zayan had a strong heart, but he grew up in the wrong crowd. Yet, he never gave in to the shadows. He held on to his dream and proved that your start doesn’t decide your finish.

His story teaches us that it doesn’t matter where you come from. What matters is how much you are ready to fight for your dream.

Moral of the Story:

Hard work and belief in yourself can make any dream come true.