Epitome Of The Audacity Of Hope. A Story Of Resilience And Determination
Simon Mwaura during graduation last Friday
….A “shamba Boy” who became a University Administrator
By SIMON MWAURA
Worth Noting:
- I worked so hard amidst the challenges and sat for my KCSE examinations in 2008 and I got a B (plain) of 64 points missing a direct entry to the Public University by a point. I went back to school in the year 2009 and sat for KCSE a second time scoring a B+ plus of 73 points.
- This was the best moment for me because I was certain that I would get a direct ticket to a public University and receive the Government sponsorship for my education. In the year 2010, I was employed by the same school as a librarian and a peer untrained teacher for a few month before my mother died on 7th August 2010. She never lived to reap the benefits of bringing us up.
I struggled with a single mother after the dead of my father who died when I was 12 years and in standard 6 at Mang’’u Primary School in Nakuru. All my sibling dropped out of school at standard six and eight respectively due to the challenges we went through. Getting food was a problem and we lived in a rented house which my mother could not afford to pay due to the economic challenges that was facing our family. After doing my standard eight at Thigio Primary School in Laikipia West Constituency, I scored 500 out of 700 marks and I was called to join Nanyuki Boys High school but I could not because my mother did not afford the school fees. I later joined Mema Secondary School – a day school in Mang’u Village of Rongai Constituency, Nakuru where we used to live. I dropped out two terms later due lack of school fees.
With no one to support my learning, I opted to engage in casual labour. I was employed as a shamba boy for five years by different masters before joining form one again at the age of 21 years. I also used a bicycle I had bought to transport people “Bodaboda”. I rejoined Mema secondary school 5 years later and was supported by the principal Mr. Stephen Kirui, teachers and the Board of Management who waived all my fee balances and awarded me full scholarship throughout my education.
I struggled a lot having to do manual jobs sometimes in between school hours and sometimes early in the morning and work until late in the evening to get meals. I went without food countless times and always depended on well-wishers to get food. I was hosted by Seventh Day Adventist Church during that time when I was a student and used to go to school every morning and come back every evening. My mother and sibling were now living many miles away in Gatanga Constituency where they had moved after life was unbearable in Nakuru.
I worked so hard amidst the challenges and sat for my KCSE examinations in 2008 and I got a B (plain) of 64 points missing a direct entry to the Public University by a point. I went back to school in the year 2009 and sat for KCSE a second time scoring a B+ plus of 73 points. This was the best moment for me because I was certain that I would get a direct ticket to a public University and receive the Government sponsorship for my education. In the year 2010, I was employed by the same school as a librarian and a peer untrained teacher for a few month before my mother died on 7th August 2010. She never lived to reap the benefits of bringing us up.
I was later employed by Equity Bank Limited both at Ruiru Town and Hola Branches before I resigned in April 2011 to join Dedan Kimathi University of Technology at the age of 27 years. I had always wanted to become an Accountant and so I was admitted to pursue the course of my dream; Bachelor of Commerce.
While at the University, I was also pursuing the Certified Public Accountants examinations. Live was very hard as I had to go without food many times. I depended on the government loan through HELB for school fees and upkeep, and any other help I could receive from my unemployed siblings. I was so resilient and determined to go against all odds. I graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and later in 2016 with CPA. I am also a Certified Internal Quality Management Information Systems Auditor by SGS Academy.
On 1st December 2023, I was one of the 4775 graduates who graduated at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. I graduated with a Master of Science in Finance Degree; a course I started in 2019. I was privileged to be the only person who graduated with MSc. in Finance from the cohort I started with.
I was employed at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in the year 2015 as an intern and I am work in the Office of Registrar Academic Affairs and Research as an Administrative Assistant in charge of Curriculum and CUE Matters, KUCCPS Matters, Fees among other duties.
I am also an academic and career mentor; I have mentored so many students in high schools, colleges and Universities. I have many of them looking at me as a source of hope and inspiration to them. I am a transformational speaker and a youth mentor in churches, mosques and community. I am very passionate about the young generation and I have devoted my life to support this generation through mentorship and training. I give them hope and motivation so that they do not give up.
I wish to encourage all people to never give up on their dreams no matter whatever challenges they may be going through. They should always focus of the bigger picture rather that the obstacles they may be facing in their lives. I am a living testimony that giving up can never be an option but resilience, determination, hard work and consistency will take you places. Above all, depending on God and His plans for you will keep you going. I thank all those who have stood by me all this long.
If I made it amidst the myriad of challenges and struggles, anybody else can.
_The Author is a Mentor, Life Coach, Transformational Speaker and a Corporate Trainer.
He Holders a Master of Science in Finance, Bachelor of Commerce (Finance), A Certified Accountant of Kenya, Certified Internal QMS Auditor and a Certified Counselor. He runs a consultancy by the name The Gardeners Future consults whose focus is youth and students_
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