The Boy with the Broken Shoes

Arman was a young boy from a small town where owning a new pair of shoes was considered a luxury. Every morning, he would walk five kilometers to his school, wearing a pair of worn-out shoes with torn soles. During rainy days, his feet would get soaked, and in winters, they would freeze.

His classmates often made fun of him. They wore shiny new sneakers, while Arman’s shoes looked like they had survived a war. But Arman never complained. He believed that shoes might carry the body, but dreams carry the soul.

Despite his struggles, Arman was a bright student. He loved mathematics and would often stay back after school to solve extra problems on the blackboard. His teachers noticed his dedication but knew his family couldn’t afford tutoring or extra resources.

One afternoon, the school principal announced a city-wide Mathematics Olympiad. The winner would receive a scholarship to the best high school in the city. For Arman, this was more than a competition—it was his chance to change his life.

He signed up immediately.

But there was a problem. To participate, he needed a proper school uniform and, most importantly, decent shoes. His family had no money to buy new ones. Arman’s father, a mechanic, tried to fix his son’s shoes by sewing patches on them. It wasn’t perfect, but it was done with love.

On the day of the competition, as Arman entered the big city school, students from wealthy backgrounds looked at him with puzzled eyes. His old shoes made a strange squeaky sound in the polished hallways. But Arman held his head high.

The competition was tough. The questions were challenging. But Arman’s determination was tougher. He wasn’t just solving problems; he was solving his life’s biggest equation — turning poverty into opportunity.

When the results were announced, silence filled the auditorium. The top scorer was “Arman Ali — Government Middle School, Village Noorpur.

The hall erupted in applause. Arman’s eyes filled with tears. His shoes were still broken, but that day, he walked like a champion.

The scholarship changed his life. He went on to become a renowned engineer. Years later, in his first interview on national television, the anchor asked him, “What kept you going when life gave you so little?”

Arman smiled and said,

“When life gives you broken shoes, it’s teaching you how to build a path on your own.”

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Moral of the Story:

J

It’s not about what you have, but about what you do with what you have. Hard work, courage, and belief can turn even broken shoes into wings of success.On the day of the competition, as Arman entered the big city school, students from wealthy backgrounds looked at him with puzzled eyes. His old shoes made a strange squeaky sound in the polished hallways. But Arman held his head high.

The competition was tough. The questions were challenging. But Arman’s determination was tougher. He wasn’t just solving problems; he was solving his life’s biggest equation — turning poverty into opportunity.

When the results were announced, silence filled the auditorium. The top scorer was “Arman Ali — Government Middle School, Village Noorpur.

The hall erupted in applause. Arman’s eyes filled with tears. His shoes were still broken, but that day, he walked like a champion.

The scholarship changed his life. He went on to become a renowned engineer. Years later, in his first interview on national television, the anchor asked him, “What kept you going when life gave you so little?”

Arman smiled and said,

“When life gives you broken shoes, it’s teaching you how to build a path on your own.”

---

Moral of the Story:

J

It’s not about what you have, but about what you do with what you have. Hard work, courage, and belief can turn even broken shoes into wings of success.