A Brief Story Of My life and Academic Trajectory.

Social backgrounds vary for everyone. Some are born into affluent families, while others, like myself, come from humble beginnings. Born in the early 2000s during the presidency of Kenya's third leader, the late Mwai Kibaki, my mother, a housekeeper, raised me and my three siblings, instilling in us the value of contentment with what we had. Despite facing challenges, my mother ensured our basic needs were met.

I am from a family of five: my mum and I and my other three siblings. I am the second born after my elder sister. I started schooling in 2009 and joined standard one in 2010. Our Kenyan curriculum by then was known as 'the 8-4-4 system,' which is being replaced now by the competency-based curriculum (CBC). In the old system, you had to spend 8 years in middle school, 4 years in high school, and finally 4 years in College. I must say I underwent this school system to this point in life by the grace of God. My life has been characterized by hope all along. Every day I wake up hoping for better, and this has proved me right.

Still in primary school, I used to perform incredibly well in academics and extracurricular skills like sports. This impressed my parents and even teachers. I understood the importance of discipline even at that age, which spared me from unnecessary punishments. However, challenges persisted; a lack of a proper school uniform would attract punishment. The teacher would call all pupils without proper school uniforms, and we would be punished. Sometimes I wondered whether it was my fault, but then it dawned on me that we couldn't afford the uniform. You see, food was way more important than the uniform! Kenyan society insisted on education as one of the keys to get out of the sea of dependency. This can be seen through African leaders who came from 'nothing' to something and are doing well socio-economically. There is some truth in this belief, while others would disagree. It depends on the prevailing situation. Consider a student who got higher entry marks to high school and the other who got lower marks. These two will have different opinions on education, but both would love to succeed.

I completed my primary school education and passed my examination to join high school. I wanted to join the school of my choice, but then financial problems were at hand! So I joined a school not far from home. Fortunately, my first term fee was paid for by a friend of my mum's. Also, our school Principal was so lenient that he allowed parents to pay fees in instalments, even allowing us to pay using farm products, labor for some parents, and all other means productive to the school. He always told us that he was once a needy student and that he wanted to help where he could. I must say that the man inspired me to become a school manager one day. I admired his managerial skills because the school never ran short of resources.

Still in high school, I was an active soccer player. During holidays, I attended tournaments and friendly matches where I could get a chance to play. Every day in the evening, I would go to the playground for practice, which also served as a platform for socializing. During practice, I would interact with my friends, and if I had some stress after playing, I would feel relieved. I play football in my leisure time only that the country doesn't invest much in the same; otherwise, I could have considered it a career!

After completing my fourth year in high school final exams, I stayed home waiting for the results. Meanwhile, I worked on construction sites as the hand of the mason, mixing concrete and doing all the non-technical work that didn't require vocationally certified personnel. After work, at around five pm, we would receive our wages - Ksh 300. It was a nice experience because instead of staying home idle, at least I could do something useful. I would then use the money to buy some household items and a few personal items after keeping the money for a week.

About two months later after completing my exams, the results were released. It was about 7 pm when it dawned on me, but then they had been released around noon. Normally, it is a tense moment when the results are out. But for me, the case was different. I was relaxed like I would behave before the release of any other exams before. Fortunately, I had passed my examination! I was happy that I would secure a reputable college of my choice to further my studies. Reality hit out of the blue - "will I go to school?" I remembered that this is the same question that crossed my mind when I did my primary school final exam. Nevertheless, I hoped for the best; this was not the point to give up in life.

In September of the same year (2022), university intakes were ongoing. I visited the university I was placed in but couldn't join. I lacked the 70% fee deposit, so the only option was to wait for the next intake. Fortunately, a friend of my mum's, with whom I fellowship in the same church, shared my story with Pastor Robert and Robert to Evelyn. They made it possible for me to connect to Hopeful Handbags Global. I must say that I am humbled to be the beneficiary of Hopeful Handbags' scholarship. Their support has lit the hope in me to pursue higher education.

Through Hopeful Handbags programs, many lives have been changed, be it personalities in people through inspiration, through the art of giving back to society, be it the water harvesting programs, name them. Personally, I can now see myself graduating with my college degree. All the support I needed to start my college life was provided for. Bearing in mind that opportunity comes once in a lifetime, I understand that I don't have to fumble. I have to reciprocate by giving back to society once I complete my studies, even sharing the knowledge I acquire here with the uninformed.

"The hopeless rise by being held by the hand, the sick get well by being treated and healed by God." Gratitude is a must, a quoted part of the lyrics by Koffee in the song 'Toast.' I have to be productive and promising even to the success of my family. I have to change what is changeable. I wish one day I'll become a functional member of the community in a better position than I am now! By the grace of God, I can see myself and my family in a better state in the future because of the support I have received from HH. My dream one day is to enable a student with a situation like mine to realize his or her purpose in life again.

All in all, I must say my life is nothing compared to the past. The past cannot define a person wholly; what matters is what this person is doing to make oneself better and how one sees the future. We prepare for the worst and hope for the best. However, hope remains dominant in the above statement. Hence, Hopeful Handbags - Always giving hope!