The will to overcome
Story of a disabled boy who believed in his abilities and went beyond the limits
Mahdieh Qazvinian
Staff writer
Seyyed Esmaiel Nasrollahi, a student from Sari (capital city of the northern province of Mazandaran), who was capable of getting the 25th rank in the national entrance exam in the humanities major.
Although Esmaiel suffers from complete paralysis, through his achievement he proves that “when there is a will, there is a way.”
Achieving the 25th rank is not something we can easily ignore. It indicates all the efforts that he made despite his difficult condition and disability. We also witness the love and sacrifice of a mother who has encouraged her son to achieve anything that may seem impossible.
“Since my son was born in 2004, I noticed that he was really talented,” said his mother, Pari Hajizadeh.
“Because he was really extraordinary,” said his mother, “I never punished him or got tired of his condition. I would always encourage him to gain his life’s goals.”
“When he was nine months old, we recognized my son’s disability. Ever since I tried so hard to prove that he is gifted. One of the most important characteristic qualities of Seyyed Esmaiel is his compassion, perseverance, and strong will.” Hajizadeh spends her days nursing her son at home, and her nights nursing patients at Imam Khomeini Hospital in
Sari.
“I don’t want to retire. I am willing to continue nursing my son and the patients in the hospital. Given how busy I was, it didn’t occur to me that I could remain as a nurse for my son – and this is nothing more than a mother’s love.” Although the genius teen has been dealing with paralysis for ages, he neither lost hope nor ambition.
During the years he was studying, he did not attend any school. He was self-educated, studying at home, without a teacher or an adviser. His physical condition was really difficult to overcome. He was not even able to turn the pages of a book.
He would lie down to study. He worked so hard to achieve good grades.
All his efforts and hard work finally paid off and, at the age of 18, he managed to get the 25th rank in the national entrance exams. In addition, he is adept in chess.
He succeeded in winning many championships, and winning official positions at national chess competitions.
Esmaiel owes his success to his mother’s love. He said, “I should write a book to appreciate my mother’s passion and patience. My mother is full of kindness and sacrifice, and she is my friend.”
He has had a meeting with Hossein Kamali, the Minister of Science of Mazandaran Province, and has applied for virtual learning in the field of philosophy at the University of Tehran.