Subhasmita Das of class 5 shares the inspiring journey of Marie, a young girl from a humble background, whose unwavering curiosity and determination lead her to pursue her dream of understanding the mysteries of flight.
Marie Crosnet was born into a humble family in a small village, where life was defined by the simple rhythm of the seasons and the hard work of farming. Despite the hardships of poverty, there was a spark in Marie from a very young age. By the time she was five, it was clear that she was no ordinary child. While other children in her village played with dolls and ran carefree in the fields, Marie spent her time gazing up at the sky, watching the birds with a sense of wonder that consumed her thoughts.
From that early age, she began to dream of becoming a scientist. The idea seemed almost absurd, given her circumstances. Her family had little money, and the very notion of a girl from such a background aspiring to something as lofty as science was met with skepticism by those around her. But Marie was not easily deterred. The more she learnt about the world, the more her curiosity grew, and with it, her desire to understand the mysteries that surrounded her.
As Marie grew older, her determination only intensified. By the time she was ten, she was no longer content with simply dreaming; she wanted to act. She shared her ambitions with her parents, Minorty and Paulino Crosnet. Initially, they were hesitant. They knew how hard life could be and were acutely aware of the barriers their daughter would face. But when they saw the fire in her eyes and realised that her dream was not just a childish fantasy but a genuine passion, they decided to support her as best they could.
Minorty, Marie’s father, was a farmer who worked from dawn until dusk, his hands calloused from years of tilling the land. Despite his own struggles, he found a way to enrol Marie in the local primary school, hoping to give her the education she needed to pursue her dreams. Paulino, her mother, worked alongside him, doing whatever she could to keep the family afloat. Together, they sacrificed much, ensuring that Marie had the opportunity to study, even though it meant going without certain comforts themselves.
One evening, after a particularly long day of work, Paulino noticed that Marie seemed unusually distracted. She sat by the window, her books untouched, her eyes fixed on the horizon, where the last rays of the setting sun illuminated the sky. Paulino, concerned, approached her daughter gently. “Marie,” she asked, her voice filled with both love and concern, “why aren’t you studying, dear? We’re working so hard to help you become a successful woman.”
Marie turned to her mother, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I want to study, Mama,” she said softly, “but when I see the birds flying outside, I can’t help but wonder… what makes them fly? I watch them every day, trying to understand their secret. I want to know how they soar so high and how they glide so effortlessly through the sky. It’s like there’s a force, a magic that I can’t grasp, and it’s all I can think about.”
Paulino was taken aback by her daughter’s words. She realised that Marie’s curiosity was not a distraction from her studies but an extension of it. She left the room without another word, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Outside the door, Minorty had been listening quietly. He, too, was struck by the depth of his daughter’s thoughts. That night, he and Paulino talked late into the night, discussing Marie’s future. They understood that their daughter was different, that she saw the world in a way that others did not.
The next morning, they sat down with Marie and told her, “If you want to become a scientist, you must work hard and follow your dreams. We may not have much, but we will do everything we can to help you succeed.”
Encouraged by her parents’ support, Marie threw herself into her studies with renewed vigour. However, when she turned twelve, something changed. Marie, who had once been the brightest student in her class, began to lose focus. Her teachers were concerned and shared their worries with her parents. “Marie used to be our star pupil,” they said. “But lately, she seems distracted, staring out the window during lessons, and when we ask her questions, she struggles to answer.”
Minorty, feeling a mix of frustration and concern, confronted Marie when she came home from school. “What’s happening to you, Marie?” he asked, his voice tinged with exasperation. “You were doing so well, but now all we hear are complaints from your teachers. You must focus on your studies if you want to achieve your dreams.”
Marie, feeling overwhelmed and misunderstood, retreated to her room in tears. She felt as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders, and the one place she had found solace—watching the birds and dreaming of flight—was now the source of her troubles. As she cried, her mother knocked softly on the door before entering. Paulino found Marie sobbing into her pillow, her heart heavy with the burden of her unspoken dreams.
Paulino sat down beside her, gently stroking her hair. “Marie, I know you’re struggling, but remember, your curiosity is a gift. It’s what makes you special. Don’t let it become a burden. We believe in you, and we will support you, no matter what.”
Marie nodded, wiping away her tears. She knew her parents were right, but it didn’t make the path ahead any easier. She continued to study hard, but her thoughts often drifted to the skies, to the birds that had captured her imagination so completely.
By the time she turned twenty-one, Marie had completed her schooling and was ready to take the exams to become a scientist. She poured her heart and soul into her studies, but despite her best efforts, she failed. The disappointment was crushing. One day, feeling utterly defeated, she decided to take a walk to a nearby pond called Cosselt Pond, a place where she often went to clear her mind.
As she walked along the edge of the water, lost in thought, she encountered a young man named Simson Prom. Simson was an inventor, driven by the same passion for discovery that fuelled Marie’s dreams. They struck up a conversation, and Marie found herself opening up about her love for flight and her desire to understand how birds soared through the sky.
Simson listened intently, and as they talked, they discovered that they shared a common dream—to create a flying structure that could emulate the effortless flight of birds. Inspired by each other’s ideas, they decided to join forces. For the next year and six months, they worked tirelessly, dedicating every waking moment to their project. They experimented with different designs, materials, and concepts, each failure pushing them closer to success.
Despite their relentless efforts, their prototype failed to fly. It was a heartbreaking moment, but rather than giving up, Marie and Simson chose to learn from their mistakes. They documented every detail of their journey, sharing their findings with the scientific community. Their innovative approach and unwavering determination did not go unnoticed. They were awarded a substantial grant to continue their research, and their collaboration soon became the stuff of legend.
Marie and Simson were no longer just dreamers; they were recognized pioneers, known for their groundbreaking work in the field of flight. Their story, often referred to as ‘Marie and Simson’s Flying Structure,’ became a testament to the power of perseverance, creativity, and the unyielding pursuit of dreams.
Marie had come a long way from the little girl who had gazed up at the sky, wondering what made birds fly. Though the road had been fraught with challenges, her journey was far from over. She knew that she had only just begun to scratch the surface of what was possible. And with the support of her family, the partnership of Simson, and the knowledge she had gained, Marie was ready to continue her quest to unlock the secrets of the skies.
