I remember that it was just last year, after the terminal break, when I returned to school to begin Form Six. Upon my arrival, I found that the dormitory arrangements had been changed. Previously, each class had its own dormitory, and I thought it was a good system. However, I was assigned to a dormitory that was infested with bed bugs. I stayed there for two weeks, but the conditions worsened, and I developed infections. I became very sick, so my mother went to school and asked the teacher if it was possible to move me to a different dormitory until I recovered. The teacher promised to help, but after my mother left, I was called by that teacher. She spoke harshly to me and even threatened me. I told my mom about this, and we decided to let it go for the time being.
Later, there was a class meeting with the second mistress, where we were asked to share any challenges, we were facing at school. Half of the students, including myself, complained about the new dormitory arrangements. About a week later, some of the students, including me, were called to the discipline office. We were accused of pouring water on other students' beds and threatening to beat them. We were asked to write letters admitting to the accusations, and we were also punished. The following morning, our parents were called to the school. My mom had to travel from Iringa to Dar es Salaam for something that, in hindsight, turned out to be based on a lie. We defended ourselves and requested the teachers to provide evidence, but nothing changed. Ultimately, we were expelled from the school hostel, which was very depressing. Since I couldn’t afford a nearby hostel, I had to stay at my uncle’s house, which was far from school. It was difficult, and I missed many classes, but I thank God that I eventually overcame this challenge.
After finishing Form Four, my dream was to own a smartphone. I stayed at home for about two months, and one day, my mom came home with a box and told me to open it. Inside was a phone, and I was incredibly surprised and happy. It was a gift I truly appreciated.
This year, my biggest accomplishment has been learning to be more independent and to make decisions wisely. I had always been very close to my mom and my family, who often saw me as someone who couldn’t make decisions on my own. But when I moved to A-level, the school was far from home, and I had to face many challenges on my own. I graduated, then joined JKT (National Service), and now I am at university. Through these experiences, I have learned a lot about independence, and I’ve developed greater patience in facing various life challenges.
During A-level, I was elected as a social leader in my school. One of our missions was to carry out charity work, such as visiting orphans and sick people in the hospital. We visited the children’s ward at Muhimbili National Hospital and the maternity ward at Temeke Referral Hospital. Additionally, we had a program to support disabled students within the school. We helped them with school supplies, assisted them in moving around the campus, and worked alongside a psychology and counselling team to help them feel accepted and normal, just like the other students. I felt incredibly fortunate to be involved in these activities. If God allows, I will continue to contribute to society and help those in need.