By: Winnie Atieno Otieno
I remember going to school because my parents took me to school. Towards the end of every school term, we had 3 or 4 days of exams. I believe this was to confirm whether or not students had understood what was taught. This was done through a grading system, after which the top 3 Students would be called to the front on the last day of the school term, and awarded for 'doing very well'. I was always among the top 3. At the end of the school year, one's grades determined whether or not they would proceed to the next level, come January.
I don't remember if I liked school. I think this was something I did because my parents wanted me to and every child around me was doing it. I enjoyed and excelled in subjects like Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Art & Craft and Religious Studies. The rest of the subjects, Science Studies, Home Science, Geography, History- seemed like a bother At School and at home, I preferred to sit by myself during breaks and read a book. My dad (rest his soul) got me child friendly books when he realized that I loved reading. However, by the time I got to High School, I had gotten my hands, on books by authors like Sidney Sheldon, etc. These were not allowed in school, but my friends and I found a way to sneak them in. I absolutely disliked being in a Geography, Physics, Chemistry class, yet because I was 'good' in Mathematics, I found myself in a Class that required that I undertake all the subjects. I hated not having a choice. I protested and insisted and was transferred to the class that would allow me to participate in Art, specifically Music. I was underwhelmed. Let’s just say I did not graduate High School with a deep desire to pursue Music as a career. In fact, whenever I was asked what I would like to be, I said an Author.
I had read so many Books/Novels, the love of story-telling had grown on me. A friend of my parents discouraged me from taking this path. I later got an opportunity and was sponsored, because of my dedication to my then church Music Department, to do a short course in Music at one of the prestigious universities in Nairobi, Kenya and I loved it. I excelled. At the end of the short course, maybe because I had done very well, the Vice Chancellor and his Assistant invited me to lunch. They wanted to encourage me to enroll for the full time Music Studies. They were willing to have me in their Scholarship Program. They would pay half my school fees and my parents would pay the other half. In return I would work for the University Part time under a program they referred to as ‘WORK-STUDY’. I was elated. I was excited. I talked to my Father then - rest his soul- learned he was not ready to take that on. He may not have said it directly to me; but I believe he did not think music would be a viable career. After weeks and months of crying and pleading nothing happened. I was 19 years old. I felt so broken and too embarrassed to go back to the Vice Chancellor and tell them that, my parents could not help. I let it go and picked up manual jobs to keep busy.
One year later, I got a job as a receptionist at an Immigration Facilitation Firm. Once again, because of my reading culture, - I read every document, took in all information regarding the work and practiced it. I quickly rose through the ranks, and within months I was in the Administrative Department. About 3 Months later, at 21 Years old, I joined the Managerial Team as the Company's Administrator. However, I always felt like I had to work 3 times harder than everyone else, because they had diploma and degree certificates and I could loose my job to any of them, any time.
There was this belief that those who have graduated from college / university are automatically better and deserved higher position. I am glad my boss then, saw my potential and promoted me. I wanted to make myself indispensable. I wanted to keep my job, to stay on top, keep earning and even pay for my college in future ad that is why fast forward, 2 years into the job I enrolled into College to study Business Management. Deep within I really would have preferred to study music but I wanted to be better at my job as an Admin/Assistant Manager and keep my job. After all, I had bills to pay. I participated in music in other ways – church meetings, concerts, weddings etc. In order to get better at music I watched and learned from others, attended seminars and trainings, even enrolled for a short course at the Kenya Conservatoire of Music, just to learn the basics and be able to share the knowledge I acquired with others. Anyway, I digress. At the Business School, once again I excelled. The subjects were nice, however, I was really bored and I dropped out before I could finish my diploma course. About one month later, I resigned from my job. I was unhappy. I wanted more. I took a break and joined the Church Mission’s Department. I needed to regroup.
Fast forward, I am here today and I still wonder how it would have felt like, had I gotten the opportunity to study Music when the University offered the half scholarship. Over the years, I have also done a lot of writing - even former bosses relied on me to write reports, and or articles for their organizations and at one point I worked exclusively as a writer for an online writing firm. My passion for music and writing lives on. I have no regrets for the different paths I have been on academically and career – wise. It has all been quite fun and adventurous. I have aso learnt a lot through it all.
Why do I share my story? A few points to note:
1. It is possible for one to excel, and achieve anything in life without being a High Flyer in Academics or if one is great academically and is unable to go further for one reason or another. One of my sisters – I have permission to share this – did not acquire great grades in High School. A college institution later gave her the chance to enroll for a teaching course because they recognized her passion for working with children and now she has become an awesome-sought after- Home Schooling Teacher. What if that college did not give her a chance based on her low High School grade? Interestingly, someone brought to my attention, the fact that we are yet to hear some of the greatest Kenyan athletes being asked about their grades in school. People focus on their athletic achievements. Please note that I am not negating the place of academics; some may have done really well. However, what if their passion in athletics was not encouraged and nurtured? Would we know them today?
2. In Africa-at least in Kenya, it seems that acquiring certificates somehow adds confidence to one’s step and act as door openers into some organizations.
3. Students who are High Achievers Academically tend to automatically get scholarships and I imagine that if scholarships were being awarded in the schools attended as a child, I would have been one of the chosen few and would have been encouraged to pursue mathematics – because I was good at it. However, my heart and passion were more into the Arts, specifically – music and literature. Would getting a scholarship to pursue what I was not passionate about have been worth it?
4. Scholarships are great. They help students whose parents/guardians are not able to afford school fees. However, what happens to the ones who are not academically astute? Do they also get scholarships to undertake what they are actually good at and are passionate about?
5. I would recommend that all children, when they reach an understanding age; should be taken through Career Counselling and Guidance in order to encourage a more focused career and or life path; instead of only focusing on what they are good or not good at academically.
A good example is the story of a Young Man in Kenya, Richard Turere - on Ted Talks YouTube Channel, who got a scholarship to study further after his invention helped to keep lions away from his village. He got a scholarship to study further in his area of passion.
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