Life Is Huge(Graduation Speech-Dec 5,2014)

The Journey It Has Been.

I stand amazed by the might works of God. 

Looking back at the path it has been, I must confess it has been a long way. Stemming from birth in May 11, 1991 with heavy cheeks which have disappeared as I get older, to joining nursery school in 1996 which I was hesitant. To be separated from the love and care of my parents at home was just too much for me. I was timid then. In fact, were if not for my Dad who insisted on retaking the nursery school oral exam I would not be here today, for I would have redone one year after keeping quiet during the test. In his presence I talked, he gave me the confidence, to tell Ms Njoki, and the head teacher what those shapes and colours were and that qualified me to join Kari Primary. 

How can I forget that incident in 1999.I was in class three. I had been sent me a queen cake, unfortunately I didn’t connect the ‘queen’ part of the cake, to me a cake was cake then, and therefore I went and brought a ‘mukonye’(muffin) .She sent me back with it to get a queen cake!, oh my good lord, on going back the ‘queen’ was still not ringing in my head and so I brought an andazi!,Guess what? She sent me back again! By now it would be suicidal not to have remembered the ‘queen’ part of the cake.Ms Mutire, you taught me not to settle for anything less than what we want in life. 

How can I forget Chemistry lessons in Mugoiri Secondary between 2005-2008.To me those 40 minutes or 80 minutes were a chance for me to learn what life is. The teacher could in fact spend the entire session teaching us how to live. I knew so well I could make reference from books for me to pass exams, but where could I have made reference when it came to life? Mr Ndegwa, you came in handy, I listened. I’ve have applied very little of the Chemistry but I’ve applied most of your life lessons. I’ve found issues becoming light by using my 5 common senses as you insisted. I’ve also realized the power of a 6th sense-the conscience, it’s still alive and super alert. 

In 2010, October 12, I joined the University of Nairobi, to pursue Bachelor of Commerce and majored in Procurement& Supply Chain Management, few know how I spent my life there. Let me shed some light on what made me a who I am so far; I made vow with myself on the 1st day not to engage in drugs or be sexually immoral. That vow carried me along my entire campus life. I deliberately chose who and where to hang out and mostly I got involved in Christian Union activities. I also took risks by trying business and vying in campus politics. This will sound bad, but looking back, it’s one of the best decisions I made; spending less time in theoretical class work and attending more of seminars, talks and browsing Internet. I made friends, good friends, I’ve at least one close person in almost all of the 47 counties of this country and lucky enough even outside the country. Meeting transformative lecturers the likes Dr. Bitange Ndemo, XN Iraki, Mr Mulwa, Dr Njihia, Dr Madam Kinoti also had a bigger impact in my life.

From the bottom of my heart.

I’d wish to express my sincere appreciations to the following;

My relatives;

 Grandma, uncles, aunties and cousins. Your words of encouragement kept me going. That prayer from my grandma every time I was leaving from long holiday gave me energy to start the semester. 

Teachers;

Let the entire staff of Kari Primary School know that I’m grateful to all, for the journey they started, filling my empty brain. Let the entire staff of Mugoiri Secondary know, they are part of me, and will forever lift the name of the school high. UoN community, you’ve taught me to appreciate life is huge.

The society and Church

The society back at Murang’a and most importantly those who have made it here treated me like their own son, whenever I did wrong they didn’t hesitate to reprimand or even report me to my parents. May that collective responsibility continue. And ACK Kari Church, thank you for instilling a spiritual direction in me right from a Sunday school boy up to now.

Friends;

At times life hits us hard, our self-esteem tested and confidence wilted but I’ve the best friends. They have always been there when I need them most. Nguma, from playing together since childhood to helping me in areas I was weak in secondary school and the support you’ve continued giving me after campus, you will forever be blessed for your big heart. Mercy, after sharing my passion and goals with you after campus, your one sentence has kept me going, ’I believe in you Sam’, it’s all I needed, you’ve remained special and wise to me. Phinehas, Velma, Purity, Freshiah, Rahab & Kinuthia; the laughter, pats in the back &exchange of ideas made my campus life memorable. Thanks too Jimmy, at times I overspent and your M-pesa came to my rescue. Njoroge, thanks, the computer skills you taught me have been of much help. The list can be long.All those who have taken their time to advise and help in one way or another I salute and respect you.

Parents.

MUM & DAD YOU ARE THE BEST.

You’ve made sacrifices to see me through and ensuring never at once was I sent home for fees. You’ve believed in me right from childhood that even when I left books at Wagakai’s shopping centre, you still knew that somehow your son will pass, even when you left me at the shop to serve customers as early as class three & four and customers thought I stayed there so that I could inform you when they alived only to serve them with diligence and they were surprised, you made me realize there was something unique in me. It made me confident. The freedom you gave me to do anything I wanted as long as I didn’t bring trouble home instilled a sense of responsibility and creativity. It made my childhood memorable and fun. I’m forever nostalgic of my childhood days. And those rib cracker jokes from Dad, waaa, makes me smile even when I’m alone.

I will never disappoint you. God bless you. Thank you. Regardless of how many degrees I will have, I’m still your kid and will always listen to you. John ‘Mageria’ (and family) and Joseph ‘Musiekuna’,( hehe, I know the latter will give me a lecture, haina pressure, see you) thanks for the support, its fun and blessing to have you as my brothers. We are meant to go far as a family, and yes we will.

God

Many others worked harder than me but they didn’t get an opportunity like this. Nobody applied to be born the way they were, or by the parents who bore them or be brought up in a certain way under certain circumstances, for me it has been only God’s favor in my journey. I will always humble myself before Him. It’s not the end He is taking me places.

The Big Question; Now that I’ve graduated what next?

I have started feeling the weight of graduating, huuuu. With so much expected from me, it can be a tricky affair. The glory and glamour of graduating will end in the next few minutes. And the reality of our lives will dawn. The next thing you will be asking is what does Sammy do nowadays? The mindset our system has instilled in us; Go to school, get good grades, get good job, marry a beautiful wife, get 2 kids, buy a car, build a nice house…and then, probably wait to die. Others will expect to be seeing me in suits and tie, with a protruding pot belly,(Hewu,!Tufiakwa! chiniiike me, if I’m unable to tie my shoe laces because of utambi). This can be a limiting perspective, though the above will make our life sweet. But nowadays there is no colleration between good grades/academics (as most Kenyans are easily access tertiary level education making competition super stiff) and success in life (success is broader than riches), I mean haven’t you seen a graduate who is morally, socially and spiritually rotten or struggling financially? Is it not true some of the most learned are the mega corrupt? Do you think the drugs and prostitution cartels are handled by people who have just basic education? 

Well to me life is all about purpose and passion not necessarily material possessions, this should come as a bonus. I’ve been searching for that one thing that I will enjoy doing whether it will pay peanuts or millions, the bottom line is, I should do what is giving me a reason to wake up tomorrow energized. But then we can’t run away from the fact we need money, and lots money for a comfortable life, the cost living is high. In Kenya I’ve realized if one wants to make some serious money enter politics and/or business or go illegal by selling drugs/black market/corrupt deals As a result I’ve made a choice, which I’m passionate about; creating a business system (I need serious money too, ha). A business system in this context is a venture that can make money whether you are present or not, the difference with employment is, for the latter if you are not working you cannot earn. I’ve been trying in a small way, most times I’ve failed, which is part of learning, it’s not an easy choice but I’m willing to do what it takes to have a successful venture. For now, I may even be forced to work when the worse comes to worse but employment is just not my thing. I’ll be happier for one to mentor & support me in this than offer me a job. 

Writing & Speaking message of hope, entrepreneurship and telling the world to live fearlessly and pursue their true calling is also something else I’m passionate about. By the way I’d love if you can take a walk to a public cemetery or remember a close person who died with their dreams and passions fearing what others will say about them, magnifying the problem than the solution, just stuck in something they hated doing….I always ask myself several questions before taking any action, some of them are: Is it against the Bible? What is the worst case scenario of my action? In my deathbed or some time to come will I my conscience haunt me for doing or not doing it? I also remember my younger me, the things I feared doing or talking my mind and heart out or opportunities that passed me because I wasn’t bold enough. By the way, imagine the things you feared when you were 5/10/20/30/40…yrs, do they still scare you? .Some years from now it won’t matter and probably you will sit down and punch yourself why you failed to do or not do it. Let’s be bold and face it fearlessly with passion and zeal because whatever one is going through it will soon pass and life is huuuuuuuuge! 

Finally good people mentor someone. If for example Mr Ndegwa (To me he was and is a life coach) kept quiet from talking about other issues of life apart from books, could I have benefited from his wisdom apart from just passing exams? Life is not all about me. The aspect of individualism has penetrated .Leave a mark, however simple it will be. The society needs you and me, there are people who are disadvantaged they only need someone to tell them, ’Yes, you can do this, ‘Keep on trying’, ’Good job’. Someone to shed some knew knowledge on how to do things better. I stand to be counted, will you?, Will you support me in this?. Ms Njoki go tell Kari pupils I said yes they are not doomed, Mr Ndegwa tell Mugoiri students I believe in them, we made it with Nguma,they are no exception, for we had no magic . Mr Nderitu go tell ACK Kari all is not lost, they is hope…and I tell Murang’a all is not lost. Mercy will you give Kitui hope?,How about Velma? Kakamega is looking up to you, Purity Embu needs you, Rahab Kilifi can’t wait any longer,Phinehas Nyandarua is waiting, Uncle ,Transzioa is waiting…..And all of us Kenya is waiting, let’s go impact and encourage one  another .Lend a helping hand. 

It’s not how the degree I have acquired plus more I will acquire since this just the beginning will help me, but how it can help many, for if my brother is in trouble so do I. 

God bless you.