Cherthala: At Vayalar Little Flower LP School, Sister Marybona Lawrence wears three hats — she is the teacher, the headmistress and the school van driver. As if that wasn’t enough, she is also the principal of the Sunday catechism classes at St Francis Xavier Church in Vayalar.

But for Sister Marybona, taking the wheel is more than a duty — it's an act of service. "Driving isn’t for fun," she says. The students at her school mostly come from humble backgrounds. The school management provides a van for their commute, but hiring a permanent driver would mean added financial burden on the parents. That’s why Sister Marybona stepped in — quite literally — into the driver’s seat.
 

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She took charge as the headmistress two years ago, and since then, has also been the regular van driver. Her day begins at 8.30 am with three van trips across different parts of Vayalar panchayat to pick up children. Once the final trip reaches school at 9.45 am, she switches roles — from driver to headmistress. The same routine follows in the evening, with three more rounds to drop the students home. Only when she is unavailable does someone else take the wheel.
 

The school, under the Kochi Archdiocese, currently has 112 students, more than half of whom depend on the school van for transportation. Each ride is accompanied by a teacher to ensure the children’s safety. Including temporary staff, there are seven teachers for six divisions, including a pre-primary section.

Sister Marybona is the daughter of social worker Lawrence and Alphonse.