From a village boy to a graduate of University of Cape Town: #ItWasn’tEasy
“Those were the days, The dark dark days. Days cemented with uncertainty, I had no identity. But today is a different day, for today isn’t yesterday. Today the future is a crystal clear.”
The above poem summarise my journey from being a small village boy to a graduate of the University of Cape Town. Truly this has been a journey. Was this journey simple?
The Village Boy
I attended Gatumbi Primary school in Murang’a County, Kenya. I finished my primary school in 2010 scoring 367 marks out of 500 in the final primary school exam(K.C.P.E) . I was admitted to Njiiri High School in Murang’a County. My efforts to attend high school seemed futile at first since my family could not afford school fees. My parents and I teamed up to apply for various scholarships; but still, nothing seemed successful. We were on the verge of giving up since I had sought refuge in a local secondary day school where we could at least afford school fees. One week to Njiiri school reporting date; my mum received a call from the office of the local member of parliament(Jamleck Kamau — former Kigumo Member of Parliament) informing her that the local Mp had a program of supporting bright students from humble backgrounds in the constituency to join high school. My mum was instructed to pick up an application form the next day. My mum did not sleep that day as she woke up very early at around 4AM in the morning and walked all the way to Kigumo shopping centre(A distance of 20Km from home) to go and pick the form. We applied for the program and fortunately, we were successful. (Persistence wears resistance).
In High School
On 07th February 2011, I reported to Njiiri school(One week after everyone had reported to school) since the support our MP offered me was the first term school fees. This meant that I didn’t have everything that was required for admission by the school(Textbooks, stationery, some bedding). The school authority made it clear to my parents that I had to have all the required items otherwise I could have lost my admission. My parents left me at the school gate and promised me they will come back before the end of the day with all the required items. After waiting for long since 10 Am when my parents left me at the gate; they came back at 6 pm with all the required items and I was successfully admitted to Njiiri school with admission number (10587). Where my parents got the money to buy the items,I don’t know.I sat on my class desk that night and I cried. I cried since I didn’t know where the second term school fees could come from. However, I promised myself that I will work hard until it would be difficult for the school principal to send me home for school fees. I promised myself to remain committed to the core for the four years (2011–2014). I branded those years (The years of total sacrifice). After the first term exams; I was the third top student in the whole form one. I promised myself if given a chance, in the second term I will be the top student. The school principal was lenient to many students who came from humble backgrounds as there were no students who were sent back home for school fees. The school also had a program where students could be left behind during the school holidays and study on their own with assistance from peer teachers for free. I decided to exploit this opportunity to keep me grounded and focused on my academics. I continued being supported by the CDF Educational bursaries but they couldn’t be able to clear my school fees. My close friends could support me with toiletries and my relatives also.
Joining wings to fly program
In form three, I went to see my school principal and enquired if he could enquire for me the possibility of joining wings to fly program. Wings to fly program offers comprehensive support for the scholars through the provision of tuition fees, accommodation, books, uniforms, shopping, pocket money, and transport to and from school during their 4 years of secondary education. The school principal inquired and he was informed that my name will be forwarded to the Equity Group Foundation for special case consideration. This was due to my stunning performance of being the top student consistently and also being the school president. I was representing the school in various maths, biology and Kiswahili contests and some of them becoming the top student hence soaring the Njiiri school flag high. After a few months(December 2013), I was confirmed to be a wing to fly scholar.
What this meant was my school fees balance which stood at Ksh 97,000(approximately R17,000) was to be cleared. I was to be provided with Ksh 1,500 pocket money, comprehensive shopping, and most importantly leadership mentor-ship. I was shocked to be accepted since this is a scholarship I had applied before I joined high school and I was rejected. (The right time may have not reached). I remember when my mum heard that I was a wings to fly scholar, she cried. She couldn’t hide her tears of joy.
My life as a wing to fly scholar
As a wings to fly scholar , I was presented with many personal development opportunities. These included attending leadership conferences, access to mentorship support, access to psychological counselling by Amani counselling group and many more. In 2014,I attended one of the Leadership conference in Multimedia University in Nairobi for a week. We were taught the art of ethical leadership and transformative leadership. Many influential Kenyan leaders shared their personal experiences. I felt motivated and inspired. It was also my first time in Nairobi (The capital city of Kenya). One quote that was said by Helen Gichohi, Managing Director of Equity Group Foundation, “But then, who said life is simple? You need to keep fighting challenges and through that they make you stronger and a better version of yourself.”. These words till today , I remember them. They remind me that nothing great comes easily. You have to toil and moil, day in day out. The CEO of Equity Bank, Dr James Mwangi also added that ,”Lest you forget where you come from. “ He shared his life experience where he stated that after getting his first job, he bought his mother a solar panel to demonstrate to the village the power of education. This left me inspired and promised myself I will do the same. During the conference, I met many young students from all over Kenya who were motivated to write their stories of success. They considered themselves as leaders of tomorrow, the leaders to challenge status quo in Kenya. They were my fellow wings to fly scholars. I was convinced this was the program to help me reshape my story and destiny.
Finishing High School.
After the leadership conference, we went back to school for our final term of our high school education. The Bank CEO promised all scholars that, whoever performs well in their final secondary school exam, will will get a paid internship in the bank before joining university in September. In Kenya, public universities academic year starts on September the following year after finishing high school to allow students hustle around before joining campus. To make the story short, I scored 80 points out of possible 84 points becoming one of the top students in Njiiri school and in our local district. Due to my performance, I landed to my first job, an intern at Equity Bank Kenya. Fun fact is that , I used my first salary to sponsor my family Christmas festival to celebrate my high school success.
Working in Equity Bank
Working in Equity bank had its own highs and lows. I was enjoying being paid as young as I was ,18 years. I was being paid Ksh (30,000) (Around ZAR 4,300) . I saved half of this money and used the rest for personal use and supported my family. I also used some money to carry out free mentor-ship to primary schools and high school which could not afford to pay motivational speakers to speak to their students. I used to cater for transport and lunch to facilitate these free mentorship sessions. The urge to give back to the society was growing in me. As a bank official, I learnt work ethics. I interacted with other bank employees who taught me skills such as public speaking, adulting etc. During that period also, I got accepted to Moi University to pursue Bsc Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Moi University and dropping out.
In September 2015, I was admitted to Moi University. Things started going south since I was not employed anymore. I was surviving on my own savings and after one year of struggling, I dropped out of Moi University without notifying anyone close to me . Some days I could sleep without food as I had finished my savings. I was paying my own rent and this meant that I could not continue studying at Moi University. After dropping out, Equity Bank gave me an internship as junior IT officer where I was trained in an IT workshop. I was trained on computer troubleshooting, installing operating systems and working with printers. Through this experience, my love for computers started. One day while I was busy repairing a machine in QA(Quality assurance) section, I asked one guy what they do. He said that they pre-check bank software before being deployed to the core-banking system. I asked him what he meant by software and he explained to me and he told me I needed to study computer science to build software.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and University of Cape Town.
Sitted at Equity HeadOffice scrolling on my facebook wall, A friend of mine, Bredah Musili Nzuki, texted me to ask if I could follow up on documents she was trying to send to University of Cape Town for admission. I did follow up and asked her if I could apply also and she said told I could. I decided to give it a try and I applied to study Bsc Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Cape Town. The process was long and tedious. But I remembered, “but who said life is simple?”. I gave it all I could. Fortunately, on November 23, at 14:23pm I received an email from mastercard foundation at University of Cape Town stating that my application was successful. This was a life changing opportunity that I never dreamt of. I came to learn later that only me and Bredah were successful from Kenya to be awarded Mastercard foundation scholarship program undergraduate program 2017 cohort. (I learnt a lesson also here).
My Life at UCT.
On 22nd February 2017 at 5.30Am, I arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ready to fly to Cape Town to start my studies. I had never flied before. It was an amazing moment that till now I have the boarding pass that was given to me that day. At 14;30 I arrived in Cape Town. I could not believe I had arrived to a place that I was set to build my career . Fast forward orientation was done and I was convinced everything was great. Mastercard foundation scholars program played their part to ensure everything was okay and offered us a mentor. I was also assigned one mentor at Kopano residence.
In my first year I struggled. Not academically, but to fit in UCT space. I was cannibalised as some students I met one day said that I was too dark. My self-steem was squashed. I was fearful to ask questions in class as I thought my accent was too bad and students would laugh at me. I was only comfortable when I was with some East African students around me.They would give me a warm hug and a smile. My first semester was bad that I didn’t perform well as I wanted despite being the class rep. I had been racially discriminated for the first time. I was struggling socially. During the June vacation, I was asked to apply to 2017 student leadership program which I did. This was the turning point. Through the program I met amazing student leaders who helped me install my confidence. I had applied to be an orientation leader and I was successful. I met very great people through being an orientation leader whom we could share great moments with such as hiking and conversations. When I was joining second year, I deliberately decided to work on myself. Exclusively ,myself. I became confident. My self-esteem peeked up. I started loving UCT. I met cool and great students who inspired me. My friends stood with me and encouraged me. They advised me and by end of second year, I was in Dean’s Merit List. I felt I was back to explore my potential.
Since I had changed my program to Computer science and Computer Engineering, I made a deliberate promise that I will work hard till I graduate with a distinction. One of my close friend, motivated me every time I felt giving up. I could say, “But my friend did it.” In 2019, my final year, I worked hard and graduated with a distinction in Computer Engineering Major. I was to graduate on 25th March 2020 but COVID-19 outbreak could not allow.
To confirm this: click here and put ‘MCHWIL006 “ as student number and click “go’ button
I cherish UCT. It is the place that I was offered with many opportunities. Through Mastercard foundation I managed to travel to Rwanda for the first time. I also spent the month of January 2019 in Germany through Tubingen South African program. Check it out here . I gained work experience as a four times Computer science tutor, two times information systems tutor, a statistic tutor , three times orientation leader and a student assistant at UCT ICTS. In 2019 I was presented with two awards, namely 2019 Department of Student Affairs Leadership Excellence Award and 2019 Department of Computer Science Entelect Social Responsiveness Award.
Truly it was journey to secure my first degree. Now a big journey has started(The journey to my postgraduate studies and working). I do believe that through the values that UCT has taught me and expereinces I have had, everything will be possible.
That is why I say: “Those were the days, The dark dark days. Days cemented with uncertainty, I had no identity. But today is a different day, for today isn’t yesterday. Today the future is a crystal clear.”
Hope my story inspire you and share to those whom you feel need to hear the story.
Special Acknowledgements and gratitude
- My Family for motivation and always motivating me.
- All my teachers in Gatumbi Primary school and Njiiri school for your encouraging words. Special mention to Mwalimu Kepha and Mwalimu Jennifer for always following up with me. Madam Hiram and Mr Mbugua, Mr Ndaguatha,Mr Kamau Chomba,Mr Mwaura(Biology), Mr Githuka (Mang’u High school)for your guidance and words of encouragement.
- My classmates and friends across the board. The 4k classmates,the 4–7 group and the froggs(UCT).
- Fellow wings to fly scholar, Equity Leaders, Equity Bank staff for your patience to work with me and kind words.
- The Mastercard Foundation scholars program for funding my studies and mentor-ship.
- UCT lecturers who have inspired me to work hard for academic excellence.
- To all whom we have worked together during my internships. Electrum payments,Absa (Aliens), Litemore Kenya and UCT ICTS Department.
To connect with me :
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willie-ng-ang-a-macharia-121518102/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Macharia.Willie/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willie_nganga/?hl=en
Email: ngangawillie84@gmail.com
If you would love to support my writing, kindly consider donating to my Paypal: williemacharia2016@gmail.com
