Hi..

How are you doing? I hope you’re safe and well, and protecting yourself.. Before anything, to begin with, I’m so sorry, outraged and sad to see what’s happening in Botswana right now. The situation is direly out of control, and we know who to point our fingers to. The government has failed us, and our loved ones are perishing for it.

#VaccinateBotswana

#VaccinateBotswana

#VaccinateBotswana

#VaccinateBotswana

#VaccinateBotswana

Wishing love, peace and comfort to everyone dealing with loss of any kind right now .. We can only hope for better days.

Diverging, for every dark night, there’s a brighter day…

I graduated! Butterflies are rising 🦋 🦋 🦋 So, in the words of Mr West, the question was:

Did you realise that you were a champion in their eyes? 

Yes I did, 
A post on my linked do the numbers sin 
Took a quick look then I poured my gin 
Had a flashback, wow, I used to be thin 
Uh-uh….. always still quite a 10 
So if you gon speak, say I’m yin and the yang - 

Introducing, a First-Class BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science with a Year in Industry graduate 🥂

What a long, peculiar, funny journey to get here. Very difficult, 1/10, wouldn’t recommend. Most of the time I’m just proud of myself for being alive, and for learning how to stay hopeful for better days.

I went to a Lutheran church during my early years of life; that’s where I started learning about God. I wouldn’t say I was a deeply religious person then; I was just vibes. I understood the concept of a higher power (and regard spirituality now in its many different forms), but, I don’t believe I had outstanding faith (belief) in God, or myself really. I believed in my mother wholeheartedly though – that was a chipi. Life was just about enjoyment, being a happy, bubbly mama’s baby, bopping music, having fun, and doing just ‘well enough’ in school not to get in trouble for my sh*t, you feel me? God and prayer weren’t really a pinnacle then.

2010: I’m reaching my prime teens. I’d just arrived from what’s now Botlhale International School to Marang CJSS for junior high. I was starting to learn a lot of things, being reckless, experiencing some of the first glimpses of growing pains, and some of the best days of my life. I was also learning and understanding privilege in a new manner, and shifting a lot of my perspective and mannerisms in realising what the social and economic reality for most people looked like, what it did for them and where I and society fit in. I was having the time of my life though; it was really my prime teens.

Recounting those years right before 2013 always leaves me in quite a daze though because those are my last memories of being a kid; happy and carefree. Afterwards, was a different tale, that’s when I (pezonally) had no choice but to grow up, and in that learnt God, and developed my own relationship and understanding of spirituality.

2013: I’d just been admitted doing form 4 at GSS. One week before schools started: loml left us, a bit unexpectedly.

The week before burial, one night, I cried the whole night, woke up swollen eyed, went to buy uniform and stationery with my cousin, and proceeded to school soon after that. I was kind of shook, realising a primary lesson in life; it doesn’t wait for you to be okay and deal with the hurdles it throws, we go on normally.

For me, my problem wasn’t just losing a parent and the only love that mattered in the world. My entire world shifted as I knew it, quite literally. You know how they say the grandma’s always hold the family together? Many dynamics changed, and I was finally experiencing some hardship, maltreatment, the joys (rather horrors) of being 16 years old and putting on Big Girl panties; the loss of innocence. The years that followed rocked.

In some ways it motivated me because it was either I off ’ed myself or, possibly, leaving the country could make things better? Idk.. I also didn’t particularly develop the healthiest coping mechanisms, and I stopped caring about life so much even when I tried, I didn’t really try as I could’ve.. Which is why even being in the UK is a gift from God. Anyway, fast forward, somehow, shockingly, I did very well in my GCSE’s – we were all shocked at home 😂 (I was smart, I just could’ve done more)… Life got more complicated, many more tests, and luckily, I completed my A levels left before I went crazy 😂

2017: I started my BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science with a Year in Industry and life was bearable, not bad, 6/10?.. It was nice to experience comfort, safety and a lot of other things again. Of course, uni wasn’t destroying me yet. Most of the content was still pretty much A-Level material. McDonalds every day, parties every week, good people, fun times.

Now 2^nd year. Yoh…

The course did this:

I was looking for a placement position, so I’d taken up a part time job [$], and I was on the committees of a few societies plus other commitments. We partied every week or two, went overtime at department of vibes. I went on holiday in 🇬🇷 and came back to 8 exams waiting for me in two weeks.. (it was the cheapest time to go on holiday and just hot enough). My mind was fighting me. While things were much more difficult than first year, I passed the year first class! 🎉

Started placement in 2019 and I thought life would be enjoyment by then, but it doesn’t stop rocking, does it? I’d started realising also that catching a plane didn’t exactly cut off the problems I had back home, I just didn’t get to see them daily anymore. A week or two into my placement, things were taking such a left turn back home and tensions were high daily. A madness.  

2020: It’s a pandemic, and I still can’t believe the things I (we) had to experience over the entirety of the year. Very intense year, 0/10. I had a few other new commitments to carry through, and 10 breakdowns daily. Can’t really say much on 20/21, I take at least 2 years to process anything, and I’m just so dumbfounded at the state of the world. I’m not even on social media per say at present because I’m beyond overwhelmed by the media. I’m proud AF though cz you know what I did though: graduated first class, in a panini! Ke star!

To close this off//

I’ve felt so many emotions over the last few years, growing into an adult. I’ve laughed until tears streamed down my face, and all I could hear was the faint cackles of my laughter and receding breath. I’ve also cried, more times than I can count, everywhere and anywhere you can think of. I’ve felt indignity, and I’ve felt kindness. I’ve felt the burn of rage, but known the calm of peace too. There’s so much more I could say and describe, but:

Emotional intelligence is key. I try to make sure that none of these emotions govern me. That’s one of the important parts of growing up. Learning that emotions are fleeting, but they shouldn’t make our decisions for us, about who we are or where we go, nor keep us rooted in ugly comfort. Learn to use emotions and various experiences to drive only towards good things and realising purpose.

In my schooling journey, I’ve learnt:

School is merely just an institution; education is a different concept, and building future leaders is a whole different ball game.

Confidence plays a role in everything we do.

Take care of yourself. You can only do so much if your body isn’t being taken care of.

Ask for help, ask for tips, and listen, don’t just file away.

Hard work pays. You will always reap what you sow.

Do it all.

Life is a jungle.