Story of rags to riches in about 350-400 words with past tense
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Answer:
Explanation:
From Rags to Riches
Often on life's journey we unexpectedly meet someone or get to hear about someone whose success story touches us to the core of our soul. Last month I had to go to Chennai to attend a seminar on Active Teaching Strategies in the Classroom. It was a long journey. I often carry a book to while away the time. The passenger on the adjoining seat was quite impressed to see me reading. As the plane took off, and steadied for the 3 hour long flight, I eased my self into the seat and began reading.
My fellow passenger could not hold himself, and struck up a conversation with me. I closed my book and began enjoying his loquacity. From his words I came to know that he was a great admirer of persons who loved books. He shared with me a rags-to-riches story of one of his friends. The story was a real inspiration for me. The following is the narration of what he recounted:
"Twenty years ago when I was in my 10th class. I had a classmate who belonged to a poor family. He wore old ragged clothes; he shoes used to be in need of repair all the time. Often I saw him distributing newspapers in the colony where I lived. In fact he delivered the newspaper at my house too. He always exuded confidence, determination, and focus. He had been distributing newspapers since he was 7 years old. He earned enough to pay his school fee and provide for his small family, which consisted of him and his mother only. His father had died in a road accident. It is true that fortune favours the brave and courageous. This classmate of mine who distributed newspapers, his employer was a compassionate man. Seeing the boy's dedication to work, and taking pity on him he once called him to office and asked,"Would you like to study in a school? I will pay the admission fee and your monthly fee also. But there is a condition. You will always have to pass the exams and tests in top grades." The boy was so happy. He replied,"Sir, I have always wanted to study. I accept your condition. The day I score less than 80% I will stop going to the school."
Thenceforth people always saw him with his books. Even while distributing newspapers, he carried his books. He would study, study, and study any free time he got. As a result, he did exceptionally well. He topped in all the exams. His employer was proud of him. He got him admitted to college. He did better at college. He topped the city. And then he topped the Civil Services Examination. The day he cleared the Civil Services Examination, he went to his employer touched his feet and said,'It is all because of you. I cannot ever thank you." This boy is now the Deputy Commissioner of Chennai. I am going to attend his wedding." I was so thrilled and inspired to hear this rag to riches story. I did not feel my time wasted. It was more inspiring than the book I had planned to read. The plane touched down smoothly. We had reached our destination.
Explanation:
1. Catherine I
The life of Empress Catherine I of Russia could easily be confused with something out of a fairy tale. The future queen was born in 1684 into a family of Lithuanian peasants, and was orphaned at the age of 3 after both her parents died from the plague. Taken in by a pastor, she spent her youth as a housemaid in Marienburg in modern day Latvia. After Russia conquered the city in 1702, 18-year-old Catherine was captured and taken to Moscow. She became a servant in the home of a high-ranking government official, and it was there that she met the Russian Emperor Peter the Great. Despite being uneducated and illiterate, Catherine charmed the emperor with her beauty and wit, and the two soon began a passionate affair.
The couple married in 1712, and Catherine went on to become Peter’s closest confidante during a period of sweeping political and social reforms. She was named Russia’s first female empress upon his death in 1725, cementing her astonishing rise from orphaned peasant to monarch. Catherine died after only 16-months on the throne, but during her short reign she consolidated her power and reduced the size of the empire’s bloated military. Not forgetting her own humble origins, she also won the love of the people by dispensing generous gifts to the poor.