DATIN PADUKA MARINA MAHATHIR

Socio-political activist, writer, founder of Zafigo, HIV/AIDS advocate

“I turn 65 this year and I don’t think the me of 50 years ago would ever have imagined that I’d turn out the way I have. At 15 I was awkward, shy and like many teenagers, unsure of myself. I went off to a boarding school for very smart girls feeling like I didn’t belong there. The inferiority vibes I gave off were picked up by others; some didn’t believe I had gotten there on merit like they did.

It took me years to shake off the feeling that I’m not smart enough, pretty enough, good

enough. Partly I was academically mediocre. Partly also I lived under the gigantic shadow of my parents whose successes I could not possibly emulate. All I could do was put my head down and do the best I could.

As it happened, destiny was written for me. HIV/AIDS picked me and shoved me into the spotlight with very little knowledge or experience. I had to swim or sink. But the challenge put floats underneath me and kept me not just above water but up above the waves. I navigated my way gingerly but with each success, began to emanate confidence vibes. People who needed help actually got it through my colleagues’ and my efforts.

Today I would tell the 15-year-old me that life may seem uncertain and unpredictable but where you’re headed is a combination of luck, hard work and not shrinking from challenges and opportunities when they’re presented to you. Your destiny may be written for you but you still need to be able to read it, even when it seems improbable.”