A we approached the desk where my Mathematics teacher, known as
Mr. Olongo was eagerly waiting for us to finally sit. Knowingly, we approached
just like a bull ready for slaughter approaches the butcher without a clue of
what would happen. However, deep down I was at peace with myself (or I think I
was). First, mathematics was a subject I dearly loved and secondly, no time I can
remember Mr. Olongo and me clashing at all. Our student-teacher relationship
was filled with happy memories, to this date, of the so many red ticks I had
amassed in my beloved exercise book from the many exercises I had attempted in
class. On the contrary, something was always amiss when my exam papers were
returned back to us. Oooooh, yes, this was the subject matter of our discussion
during that very sitting.
First things first, after a brief introduction we delved into
all the mathematical strategy not only to translate my love and passion to good
scores but also to ensure I scored that perfect grade in my final high school
exam KCSE. One thing that has stayed
with me since that meeting was the mention by Mr. O, that he prophesied that
with the passion I had demonstrated in the subject I would be through with my
university by the time I was 23 years…………..well this very declaration did not really
perturb me more than it has come to haunt me. I remember then unconsciously
thinking to myself that if that was to happen, then I would take it to the next
level and achieve my master’s degree by the time I was 28 years (well, this
thought back then sounded like a fantasy).
Fast forward many years passed and before I could realize myself
I was well over 23 years and with no college certificate leave alone university
degree (apart from the most famous computer packages). I know many of you are
asking, what happened? Did I fail my K.C.S.E? Did I just stop my passion and
love for books? Did I get married? Did I fall in a comma? Honestly, I did pass
my KCSE and to that extent achieved a grade A in math and believe to this day I
scored 100% in Paper 1. Only, life had completely given me a different script belonging
to some alien person unknown to me. Yes, I said it; this life had seemed to
turn so unfair that by the time I was joining campus most of my fellow classmates
were already done with university apart from those who had joined the revered
medicine and engineering courses that took them half a dozen years to finish. This was absolutely the reality that I was
facing at the time but somewhere along the chain of my life I managed to turn
all the negative energy, feelings, emotions and desperation to something
positive which am proud of today.
Wayne Dyer said “Our lives are the sum total of the choices
we made” when growing up. When I joined university I purposed to turn all my
tears to streams, all my anger to forgiveness, all my bitterness to a smile and
all my unaccomplished dreams into visions. I had been through painful moments
whether innocently or fully aware of what I was getting myself in. when I glance
back at my life I am grateful that I went through such experiences then when, it
seemed like my midlife crisis. I appreciate because I learned to be patient
while everything was not going as planned, hopeful in the middle of despair, dream
even though fully awake, be optimistic while surrounded by pessimists and above
all break barriers as if they were made of paper. Above all I leaned to always trust no man but
God alone. He gave me a reason to trust and worship even more. 
Some years have passed now and am in awe…………..as I hurriedly
write this to try and capture my thoughts, am eagerly looking as the hour hand
loses to gravity, the second hand acts like a cheer leader always raising my
anticipation. I patiently await the D-day when I prove to myself that my unconscious
thoughts, right in the middle of a discussion several years ago has come to
fruition, 23rd January 2014, at 11:00 am (UK time) I will be honored
with yet another life achievement in my academic calendar. The day I graduate
with my MSc with honors. All I can say now is thank you Lord for providing me
with opportunities when I needed them not when I wanted them.
How I wish my mum was here with me, we tried but it was not
possible, maybe it’s a reason to still do the next one, maybe it is a sigh that
years ago you agreed with me, maybe it’s a chance to start all over again. At
this point in my life I can testify that the Lord is faithful, I have seen him
and what he can do, from providing resources to strength to love to grace, from
grass to eucalyptus, from riding a bicycle (black mamba) to flying a plane
(Dreamliner). Yes, he can do that for
you too. I have not achieved anything yet or lived His purpose or according to
his will but I know He has good plans for my life. Therefore, my family,
friends, brothers and sisters, as well as foes, join me as I climb another step
in my academic ladder. I take this opportunity to thank my family for their
support, my friends for their encouragement, and my enemies for giving me a
reason to aspire more and above all GOD for guiding me through this process. Now
I look forward to the next thing that is in store for me.
You can catch the live action tomorrow Thursday the 23rd
January 2014 from
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/dmu-students/your-student-experience/graduations/graduation-ceremony-live-streaming.aspx,
your seat has been reserved for you.
Lessons I have learned:
1.
Never
dismiss any dream that comes your way, after all you might come to see it pass.
2.
Never
ever…. ever… ever… give up on anything you have wanted to achieve, it may not
pass right away but someday, maybe the right time it will.
3.
Be
optimistic about life, positive energy will attract success to you.
4.
Work
hard at every opportunity you have this might be the key to unlocking your life’s
dreams
5.
Never
look back at what you went through with bitterness, forgive where you can,
apologize where it is necessary and focus on the finish line because it the
determiner of how good or nasty the race has bee.
6.
Finally,
be happy and cheerful for your father never sleeps nor shies from lifting you
when you have fallen.
© William
Murithi 2014
Thank
you all for reading and leaving a comment
