Machiko
Dec 05 2013.
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Here’s the story of a seventeen year old whose heart of service made her choose an alternate, infrequently taken road.
Machiko Raheem is something more than your average school-day Sports Champion. Her achievements would be sidelined and left outside the spotlight, if one comes to know what is at the heart of Machiko’s character.
This article might become an average one if I state a list of her swimming achievements, medals and trophies – what we need to know about Machiko, more importantly is that she has begun a fund raiser for cancer patients with little stunt about it.
Seventeen year old Machiko is the second of the Raheem sisters, eldest of who is 2008 Beijing Olympic star Mayumi Raheem. A current pupil of AIS, Machiko did something so rare and beautiful at a recently concluded meet, when she shaved her head bald in memory of cancer patients undergoing chemo.
Socially conscientious Machiko stands out among many a young achiever, due to her ardent spirit for the unfortunate cancer patients. She will remain a conundrum to parents who feed their “trophy-child” with airs and fill their minds with the solitary aim of success. Machiko’s heart of care is precious to come across.
Even as I contacted her to write about her, her only concern was that any exposure will be of utility in helping raise funds for her small, yet growing fund-raiser: “If anyone would like to donate money to my project, I would greatly appreciate it. I am trying to initiate an English and Music Learning Center for the children in the National Cancer Institute in Maharagama.
These children undergo immense amounts of trauma, with regard to receiving the medication (which is very painful) as well as the stress that they undergo. Furthermore, many of them come to the Hospital from rural area and often do not have the opportunity to learn English.
The program would greatly help them with their future and well as help soothe the children battling cancer. If you would like to donate, please contact me on: 0773601144. Thank you!”
1. Why would you vouch that sports builds character? Who are some living examples you look up to in this day and age?
I believe that sports expose us to many aspects of life that we would not normally be able to experience without it. Personally, I feel as though swimming has helped me become a stronger, more determined individual. Other than getting me used to an active lifestyle, swimming and sports in general have taught me many important things about how to live my life. It has taught me the importance of teamwork and that nothing ever comes easy.
Being a swimmer I have learned to not give up regardless of how hard it may be and it has helped me prepare for the future in the sense that I have learned the importance of time management and how to effectively use my time.
There are Olympic Gold Medalists who are now pediatric surgeons and highly qualified in all fields. I use them as inspiration, for if they are able to achieve such an amazing feat and still be accomplished with regard to jobs, I do not see what would stop me.
2. Tell us about taking up the cause of Cancer. How and when did you first realize a calling towards it?
I didn’t really have a calling per say. I have had relatives that were really close to me who had passed away due to cancer, including my grandmother, uncle and a very close family friend. I wanted to help out because I understand how lucky I am, I live a comfortable, protected life, and I want to do whatever I can to help those who are not gifted with the same blessings as I am. I wanted to do it; simply, because I felt like it was the right thing to do.
3. How do you multitask? Can you give our young readers some tips on efficiently managing time?
Well, multitasking and managing my time is an extremely demanding aspect of my life. I train twice a day everyday, except for Thursday and I have my A Level Examinations in 2014. I don’t have much time for anything else actually, swimming takes up between 5-6 hours of my day everyday and I am school the remainder of the time.
It is difficult, because my parents do expect me to get very good marks, as they believe studies comes first. To be perfectly honest, you have to prioritize. For me, the two main priorities in my life, apart from my family, are swimming and studies.
Therefore I often have to say no to things like parties and functions because I have to study or sleep early because I have practice the next morning. It’s not always the easiest thing to do, but I know that its necessary :)
4. Both your sisters are excellent swimmers. How do you'll relate to each other's success?
Yes they are. They are very talented swimmers. Well, we always celebrate each other’s successes. If one of us achieves our goals, the rest of us are there to congratulate her and we do what we can to help each other achieve their goals whenever one of us need it.
My parents are incredible. They are so hardworking and supportive. I know that they have to give up a lot of their time for us, to drive us to practice and help us when we need it, to guide us and support us. They are strong individuals, so I think they are doing fine, but I do know that they do expect a lot from us in all aspects of our lives for their hard work.
5. What are qualities in a young person that you think will make them contributive citizens to the society someday?
I don’t believe that a person needs to have certain qualities to be a contributive citizen in the future, I just think that everyone needs to stop for a moment and take a minute to comprehend how truly lucky we are. To think about what we have and stop complaining about what we don’t have, and to understand that there are so many people out there worse off than you that you could help.
Many people forget than even the smallest kind gesture can make a huge difference is someone else’s life. I believe that if you have something, you always have enough to give someone who is less fortunate than you.
6. What do you think of Sri Lanka's current place and future scope in the international athletic arena?
Well, I think Sri Lanka is definitely improving. We have an immense number of talented young athletes in all sports. The problem is lots of these children don’t often continue into their early 20’s, which is often when they can be the best at what they do due to a lack of a support system from governing sports bodies. I have seen many changes implemented over the past 2 years however and I hope many more changes come, because I think that the talented athletes here can bring glory to our country. J
By Nivedha Jeyaseelan
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0 Comments
irfan says:
Dec 06, 2013 at 12:00 amI ma really proud of you as a Sri Lankan and you are an excellent example to other youngsters today. Sports teach you the life. Wish you a good journey.