uMwizerwa wa Ngoboka

Almost a year ago, I started this blog. My first blog, learn from your friend's mistakes, was written after a particularly traumatizing night. I experienced extreme pain in the night of the twenty fifth of August last year. During that night, I realised I had been overworking myself for naught. College did matter, National exams did matter; however my life mattered more. I had no valid reason to neglect my mental and physical well-being. I wanted the whole world to know, most especially my peers, that all these things we sweat for are just vanity and chasing after the wind. I chased after the wind too. I studied too hard and forgot life was not just about academics. It was also about sitting next to my best friends and cracking jokes. It meant going to ask for food in the break time and enjoying that exquisiteness. Life is all about creating memories, making lasting bonds. That is something I learned a little late, but not too late. A few months prior, I had distanced myself from...

La naissance et la mort, La tristesse et la joie, L’amour et la haine, Le pardon et la rancœur. C’est la vie, c’est la vie. Elle n’est pas parfaite Mais, elle est assez bonne. On ne peut pas tout avoir, Mais on n’a le nécessaire. C’est la vie, c’est la vie Elle peut tout donner, Et elle peut tout reprendre. Sucrée ou amer, On l’aime toujours. C’est la vie, c’est la vie. Elle te fera peur, Elle te fera pleurer. Elle te donnera sourire, Elle te donnera courage. C’est la vie, c’est la vie. Dans toutes ses défauts, Dans toutes ses souffrances, Accepte-la sans crainte. Tu trouveras la paix, Tu trouveras l’amour.

In the summer of 2015, I attended the first of its kind WiSci STEAM camp. It brought together girls from eight different African countries and the USA. It was a three weeks long intensive camp aimed at inspiring and encouraging girls to join the STEAM fields. We were taught multiple things from Microsoft, Intel, and other companies and people. We were expected to come up with a final project that used the knowledge we had acquired to solve the problems in our society. In the last weekend, we went for a trip in the Akagera National park. The trip was super amazing. However, I was very anxious. I had no team for the final project and no idea of what I wanted to make. However, I was fed up with the transportation system. Only recently, they had introduced big buses we referred to as “zonda.” These buses were a total pain; because they packed us up like potatoes. There was no breathing room, and I am pretty sure they exceeded the number of people indicated on the insurance. I had to fin...

On the twenty first of April 2017, I turned nineteen. I also accepted the offer of admission to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). I had received the acceptance letter four months ago, on the fifteenth of December at Tau time. I had put in a lot of efforts and energy in my application. I loved  joking that I will put so many amazing things in my application that the admission officers would have no other choice but  to accept me. I had taken multiple videos to submit with my portfolio- which I ended up not adding to the portfolio. I wrote a poem putting together my love of science and fashion. I secretly think it was one of the reasons I was admitted. On pie day, the regular admissions decisions were released, and consequently the platform to respond to the admission decision was opened. I didn't respond right away, even though I knew my answer would be yes anyways. After being admitted to MIT, I never bothered to apply to any other college or university. For one,i...

The leaves have fallen The day has started But the sun hasn't risen. The cold wind makes me tremble The stench makes me grumble But the pain around me is defeaning So much agony So much pain In this dark place Death is common occurrence Loss has become a habit But hope keep us awake Doctors are running all around Tryna save just one more person But the time is running out

Dear class of 2021, A few months ago, we individually received letters that would change the course of the next four years of our lives and even more- letters of admission to colleges and Universities. Subsequently, a kindred soul decided to create this group- a WhatsApp group. It was to be the birth of a new community, new friendships and relationships. I was added in the first round, introductions were made, jokes were cracked, etc. I, with my eternal apprehension to large groups of people- even virtual ones, kept quiet. I told myself I would do the intro tomorrow, until It was no longer something I aspired to do.  So I resigned myself to being a "lurker". I learned to know a number of you, your perks and quirks, your style and so much more. Selfishly, I never gave any part of me. A number of you may know me as the "MIT" girl, and others, we spent three years of highschool together, yet some completely ignore my existence, but it's no big deal- I didn...

I was the lost sheep But you called my name. Je sombrais dans les ténèbres Mais tu as été Mon etincelle Nari ngiye kugwa mu rwobo Ariko wamfashe akaboko You took me into fertile lands And let me drink the water of Life Tu m'as emmener vers la Lumiére Et tu as chassée Les esprit noirs Wanyoboye mu nzira y' ubugingo Urinda intambwe zanjye ngo ntatsikira nkagwa