DREAM ON !!
by Stephen Okumu
Third Year
School of Information Science
Every human life is exposed to some period of shortcomings, some sort of dark age or rough patch. This is not always a pleasant place to be in and it is reflexive for the human to fight their way out. They would do anything possible; to remain afloat, to keep their heads up and to smile as though everything is Ok. Inherent within us is the question of choice and how we choose to react to situations. But what happens when the situation is beyond your ability? What happens when the dark angel stands in the way of your dream? What happens when the mountain peak is too high for you to climb over and gain access to the side where the grass is greener?
Out of clutter find simplicity, from discord, find harmony, for in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. These are the famous words of Albert Einstein still echoing in our ears. In the thick of things, in the dark eerie jungle or in whatever maze one finds themselves, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. At the time of my first year of study I had Kshs.60, 000 from savings. I had just lost my Job after the company I was working for folded up. I was at crossroads, did not know where to start in the quest to shape my future. Anyhow – I made the risky decision of ‘going-back-to-school’ to study for a BSC in Information Science at Moi University, Nairobi campus. The course was to cost a whooping Kshs.700, 000 in fees – for four years of study. My determination was to start off with whatever little that I had, not knowing where the rest was going to come from. I started my university studies smoothly.
However – things were to take a completely sharp turn, and my having been oblivious of the requirements of university examination regulations started to kick in. First, I did not sit my First Year Second Semester examinations. Similarly, I was not to sit my Second Year First Semester examinations – all due to financial difficulties. I was not able to afford to pay my university fees, to be allowed to sit examinations. Missing exams in two consecutive semesters totally shattered me.
This caught the attention of one of my lecturers, Dr Yvonne Ochwaya, from the Linguistics and Foreign Languages Department, who taught us the common Linguistics courses. My fellow students reported that each time Dr Ochwaya noticed I was not sitting an exam, she would visibly appear disturbed, and tears would well in her eyes! Her body language caught everyone’s eye. What extremely concerned Dr Ochwaya was, to quote her very words: “Stephen Okumu has always been, by far, the best student in his class, in all of the courses that I have taught them. Yet, and very ironically and sadly indeed, Stephen is usually the one not sitting exams due to lack of university fees.”
Dr Ochwaya would then write to Rafiki Thabo Foundation, pleading that they pay my fees. Rafiki Thabo Foundation is a charity organization based in London, UK, that caters for needy students who are enrolled in higher institutions of learning, high schools and also primary schools. Dr Ochwaya first heard of this charity whilst she studied for her PhD in the UK. With the immense help of Dr Ochwaya, and her very moving recommendation of me to them, I made a successful application and Rafiki Thabo Foundation offered to pay all of my fees for my entire university studies, up to when I shall complete my fourth year of study! What a miracle. I shall forever be indebted to Dr Ochwaya, not only for the fact that she picked up my plight and decided to do something about it, but also for all of the other support that she generously continues to provide to me.
Indeed when I looked for Dr Ochwaya to request her to take a picture with me for this article, I found out that she was in hospital undergoing treatment. When I did phone her, she did not decline the photo request, but instead asked me to go meet her at the hospital for us to take the photo! When I arrived at the Nairobi Hospital, Dr Ochwaya said we could not take the picture on the hospital premises, since many people would easily recognize the background as the Nairobi Hospital. Although she clearly seemed unwell, Dr Ochwaya firmly insisted that we take the photo in the opposite site, at Landmark Building, which we then did. She even feigned a smile for the photo, despite the great pain that she was in.
It is important to state that Dr Ochwaya actually recommended about eight of us to Rafiki Thabo Foundation at the time. I do not want to chest thump myself; in fact I would have been happier had all of us received sponsorship. BUT – when the sponsor has to choose just one individual from a lot of applicants who meet the basic selection criteria, there has to be a distinguishing factor. That secret Dr Ochwaya seemed to know already, for she kept telling me that she was sure I would be selected! She declines to explain what she knew beforehand, her one-sentence answer being “intuition”.
My advice to all and sundry is that when you are looking to be selected for sponsorship, or for anything else really, you need to stand out. Talent made me stand out in the selection process. I wrote a poem that has been featured in The Rafiki Thabo Foundation’s website. This clearly is part of what made me stand out. Go that extra mile to prove your worth!
Once again - my deepest gratitude goes out to Dr Yvonne Ochwaya for making this life-changing opportunity possible. May God bless you Daktari Yvonne Ochwaya – and give you a long fruitful life, Doc. Many times we fail to notice how things can work for us through other people.
The Rafiki Thabo Foundation is the angel of light that outwitted the angel of darkness for me. Much appreciation to the foundation’s chairman Mr. Jonathan Uglow, the foundation’s treasurer, Mr. Paul Evans, and the rest of the foundation’s board of trustees. For they are individually and collectively turning my dreams into reality - there is no much honor in life than this.
I would not want to end this without giving the biggest credit to God for making everything possible. Dr Ochwaya always told us to pray – God makes the wheels of life move for each one of us. My tears were wiped away and I am now all smiles. Praise be to God forevermore.
To the rest of us, faith is the only bridge that leads to success. Never give up believing even in what you might deem impossible. Start your walk across the tunnel and God will surely meet you at the other end.