My family had just moved to an area where people come from different religions, and I had to transfer to a new school nearby. Like other first time experiences, those were uncomfortable if not tough days. The first day of classes came and I found myself among many new faces. It was a strong experience for me entering a classroom where everyone and everything was strange and unfamiliar. I felt so shy and uneasy, and I behaved awkwardly as I tried to adjust to my new classmates. Thus I was surprised when someone from the class then stood up and approached me. Haydee, a friend who also lives the life of unity, was also studying in the same school. Her presence made me feel much better and at once, she helped me approach and make friends with our classmates.

Our classroom seating was settled on the first day of classes. As we took our seats, I found Saheeda, a Muslim girl, seated between Haydee and myself. She looked so strict and was as quiet as we were. We remained silent up to the point we felt at a loss as to how to start a conversation with her. Even a simple greeting was difficult for me.

While stuck in that deafening silence, I remembered two ideas that we had underlined in our “Run for Unity” activity last May 2008. They were the Golden Rule and the Art of Loving; particularly that point which says: “Be the first one to love.” I understood that here was a great chance for me to put those words into practice. Together with Haydee, I started to greet Saheeda and took advantage of all the occasions to be the first to love her. Little by little a new relationship of openness and reciprocal help blossomed among us. She started to be cheerful and to feel free to talk to us. Sometimes we would borrow books together from other classmates and agree to study together and sometimes eat lunch together.

Then one day I saw her crying. So I sat down beside her and asked what her problem was. It seems that she had answered back when her mother had scolded her for something her brother had done. After listening a while, I advised her to try to understand her mother. Then I shared my own experience of how I had tried to understand my mom. I also shared some similar experiences from young people of the Focolare.

When we met again the following day, she told me that it was so hard to understand her mother. I admitted that it could be really hard at the beginning, but I assured her of my prayers. Smiling, she then answered back; “Even though it’s hard, I’ll keep on trying.” Some days later when I asked her how it was, she told me that she had now established a new and better relationship with her mother.

Now, I noticed many times that it is not only us who try to be the first to love, but Saheeda also is vying with us in the race to be the first to love by loving us and also by loving the other students in the campus.

Fortunately in this school year 2009-2010, Saheeda, Haydee and I are in the same class again. It is another chance to live the life of unity. Together with other youths of the Focolare present in the school, we try to bear witness and to live the ideal of unity through our life and concrete actions. I feel really happy that we were able to overcome the atmosphere of fear among us and were able to build a harmonious relationship with Muslim classmates and other students as well.

Beverly Gecale